Richard Linklater Plans A “Blue Moon”

Filmmaker Richard Linklater, whose acclaimed Glen Powell-led comedic thriller “Hit Man” hits Netflix this week, is reportedly developing the film “Blue Moon” as a potential project reports Deadline.

The story follows a period in time with American songwriting duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart who created 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs – Rodgers doing the melodies, Hart the lyrics.

The pair collaborated between 1919 and the early 1940s with notable works including the musical “A Connecticut Yankee” and songs like “My Funny Valentine”.

Hart’s increasing struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues made it challenging for him to work consistently, leading Rodgers to begin a new collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II.

That first work, “Oklahoma!,” set a new standard for musical theater. Rodgers and Hammerstein went on to become one of the most successful duos in musical theater history with legendary works like “South Pacific,” “Carousel,” “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music”.

In the film, Hart attempts to save face while celebrating his former partner Rodgers’ great success on the Broadway opening night of “Oklahoma!” in March 1943. Hart ultimately died a few months later.

The project boasts a script by Robert Kaplow (“Me and Orson Welles”). Linklater and John Sloss will produce. World of Reel adds that Ethan Hawke is attached as one of the two leads.

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