The King And I movie musical — made famous with Yul Brynner in titular role — getting a remake

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The King And I movie musical — first made famous with Yul Brynner in titular role — getting a remake by Paramount Pictures

By Kevin Kayhart For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

The bar has been set high for both the stage and screen versions of the acclaimed musical —  The King And I.

And on Friday Paramount Pictures announced it has bought the rights to the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic, and that a new film version is now in development.

The late Yul Brynner famously played King Mongkut Of Siam in the 1950s on Broadway, for which he won two Tony Awards, and in the film adaption: a performance that earned him and Academy Award For Best Actor.

Classic! Paramount Pictures bought the rights to the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical, The King And I, and that a new film version is now in development; Yul Brynner famously starred in the stage and film versions of The King And I

The production company, Temple Hill, will produce the upcoming movie musical with Concord, which is part of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.  

So far there hasn’t been any writers, directors or actors attached to the project.

The producers and the studio are hoping to bring a contemporary perspective to the film, all while incorporating diversity, world views and real history to the musical, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Yul Brynner played King Mongkut of Siam in the Broadway debut of The King And I in 1951 and in the 1956 film adaption

Yul Brynner played King Mongkut of Siam in the Broadway debut of The King And I in 1951 and in the 1956 film adaption

The original musical is based on the 1944 novel — Anna And The King Of Siam — by Margaret Landon, which in turn was derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens.

Based on true events in the early 1860s, the plot follows Anna, a widowed schoolteacher with two children who gets invited to Siam (now Thailand) by King Mongkut to teach his kids and wives English.  

The hiring of Anna is part of the King’s drive to modernize his country.

Throughout much of the story, the relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict, as well as by a love to which neither can admit.   

Heralded: Brynner won two Tony Awards and an Academy Award for his performances as King Mongkut on Broadway and on the silver screen; the actor is pictured in 1956 film

Heralded: Brynner won two Tony Awards and an Academy Award for his performances as King Mongkut on Broadway and on the silver screen; the actor is pictured in 1956 film

Anna And The King Of Siam was first adapted into a film in 1946, and then into a hit Broadway musical in 1951, which starred Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence as Anna.

The production won five Tony Awards including Best Musical and awards for both Brynner and Lawrence.  

Helping with its success, the stage version included such classics such as Hello Young Lovers, I Whistle A Happy Tune, Shall We Dance?, and Getting To Know You.   

Another take: Miranda Richardson and Martin Vidnovic voiced the titular roles in the 1999 animated version of The King And I

Another take: Miranda Richardson and Martin Vidnovic voiced the titular roles in the 1999 animated version of The King And I

A commanding force on stage, Brynner’s performance and charisma as King Mongkut also gripped audiences in the 1956 film adaption alongside Deborah Kerr. It was a critical and commercial success that resulted in 9 Academy Awards nominations and five wins, including a Best Actor trophy for Brynner.    

An animated version of The King And I was released in 1999, with Miranda Richardson voicing the role of Anna and Martin Vidnovic as King Mongkut Of Siam.

Also in 1999, Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat starred in a live-action film titled, Anna And The King. 

The musical returned to Broadway in 2015 and won four Tony Awards.     

A different view: Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat starred in a live-action film titled, Anna and the King, in 1999

A different view: Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat starred in a live-action film titled, Anna and the King, in 1999

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