Alan Menken has confirmed that the previously announced live action version of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame is currently dead in the water, but that he “wouldn’t bet against it happening at some point”. The original animated movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released by Disney in 1996 and was based on the 1831 book of the same name by French author Victor Hugo.
The film follows Quasimodo, the deformed and confined bell-ringer of Notre Dame, and his yearning to explore the outside world and be accepted by society. Quasimodo develops unrequited feelings for the enchanting Gypsy Esmeralda following a chance encounter. He must then help to protect her from the clutches of his sinister guardian, Frollo, who also has eyes for her.
Featuring Kevin Kline, Demi Moore, Tom Hulce and Tony Jay amongst its voice cast, it was notoriously dark for the House of Mouse and definitely sits among their more controversial releases despite spawning a direct-to-video sequel in 2002. Fast forward to now and things have stalled with Menken saying diplomatically that “it’s a property that’s challenged”.
Speaking to The Standard ahead of his first ever UK solo shows in London’s West End next month, he was drawn on the latest, saying: “I wish it was [still happening]. I think it’s a property that’s challenged - we won’t call it a problem. “It gets a little complicated because it’s Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame and let’s face it, it’s a meaty material. It deals with very heavy and profound themes, but Disney they walk a line.
“The challenge is how can we deal with those themes of the inner obsession that Frollo has both as a man of the church and also obsession with this gypsy. How do we deal with this sense of discrimination against the gypsies - Romanie people? How do we deal with the revulsion that people feel towards this hunchback? If we’re going to soft pedal that then what’s the point? It’s hard, it is hard. But again, hope springs eternal.”.
Last year there were calls by Romani filmmakers that if Hunchback was to still go ahead, Disney should consider casting Romani actors. “That would be the least of it” reflected Menken. “A Hunchback without hellfire? I don’t think so. I wouldn’t bet against it happening at some point. Life is an ever shifting picture as we see in the world right now. Things change like [that] and they may change back. That’s what makes life interesting.”.
He concedes however that it’s “probably” more likely to get made than 1998’s Pocahontas, which comes with its own obstacles. “I love both of those [films] and with all of those animated [movies], if I only had those I’d be complete. How many animated did I do? Eight? Well, if I consider Enchanted was partly animated. It’s not just the songs, the fact that I was able to write the score that wove all the songs together made it a uniquely special musical genre of its own and I treasure that.”.
While Hunchback’s big screen return is not on the cards at the moment, Menken says he’s “thrilled” that a musical stage adaptation will be coming to the UK for two concert performances at the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End on August 17.
“With all the shows I’ve had, and I’m so blessed that they’ve been seen and appreciated, there are some that I just go I wish, they’d be more and one of those is certainly Hunchback. “Everything evolves and the day will come when it will be again seen widely as a musical. It’s already all over the world, but I’m thrilled that there’s going to be a concert of it, that’s great.”.
EGOT Menken - who also proudly points out that he has an Evening Standard Theatre Award (for Best Musical for Little Shop of Horrors in 1983) amongst his bursting awards cabinet - is set to delve deeper into his storied career which spans more than 40 years as he takes to the stage at the London Palladium on March 9 for two shows - a matinee and an evening performance. They promise to be an unforgetable experience for fans as he touches on his time before and at the centre of the Disney Renaissance (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, etc) and beyond, with his current projects including musicals of Night At The Museum, Animal Farm and Nancy Drew. He’s also working on the live action adaptation of Disney’s Tangled along with a stage musical. Plus, the highly-anticipated stage adaptation of Disney’s Hercules opens in the capital at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June.
