Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ To Become A Musical

Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 Mexican dark fantasy film Pans Labyrinth is heading to the stage as a musical.  The story follows the stepdaughter of a Falangist army officer who escapes the terrors of life in 1944 Facist Spain by finding refuge in a fantasy world filled with strange and magical creatures.

The stage version has already been written by del Toro .  Music for the production will be written by Academy Award winners Paul Williams and Gustavo Santaolalla.

“I admire and love Gustavo and Paul wrote the perfect album in Phantom of the Paradise, which I have loved for decades,” del Toro told Deadline.

Williams, best known for writing the lyrics to The Love Boat theme and a plethora of Top 20 hits throughout the 1970s, will write the lyrics for the musical.  Two-time Academy Award winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain/Babel) will write the musical’s score.

“I’m so excited about translating Guillermo’s magical vision into music and songs. I’m such a longtime fan of both Guillermo and Paul that to work on this with them is truly a dream come true,” said Santaolalla.

English theater and film producer Robert Fox will produce the production alongside del Toro.  Fox has been a producer on Broadway for over two decades and his credits include Another Country, Burn This starring John Malkovich; Amy’s View with Judi Dench,The Boy from Oz starring Hugh Jackman; and Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Guillermo and the terrific creative team that we have put together to bring the wonderful film of Pan’s Labyrinth to the stage as a musical,”  Fox commented on the upcoming production.

Pan’s Labyrinth was nominated for six Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards including Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Foreign Language Film.  The film would end up taking home three Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup.

There has been no official date or theater announced for the musical’s release.