‘Grease’ Prequel Brings In ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ Director Brett Haley
Yes, thatGreaseprequelis still happening. And it’s even found a director!Brett Haley, the filmmaker behind the charming indie flickHearts Beat Loud, is set to direct the project, which is currently calledSummer Lovin’but will probably end up being retitledGrease: Originsor something stupid like that, since studios love brand recognition.
Deadline is the word on theGreaseprequel director. Brett Haley has been brought in by Paramount to helm the film which will cover the fateful meeting between Danny and Sandy before they meet again at Rydell High School. The weird thing is that the meet-cute between Danny and Sandy is already covered inGreaseitself. It actually opens the movie, and then moments after that, we get the song “Summer Nights,” in which Danny and Sandy tell their respective friends about how they met and smooched and had a grand old romantic time.
The big question I have: if all of this was already covered inGrease, why does it need to be covered again in an entirely separate movie? Of course, the answer is: money. And sure enough, Deadline even adds: “The studio is extremely high on this property and sources say there is a sense depending on how this film goes of the possibility of a franchise down the road.”
John Travolta played Danny and Olivia Newton-John played Sandy in theGreasemovie, but of course, younger actors will have to be brought in to play the characters for the prequel. Unless Paramount wants to takeThe Irishmanapproach and digitally de-age them, which…I don’t see happening. Because it would be kind of weird.
When word of this prequel first broke, it was reported thatJohn August(Big Fish, Go) was handling the script. However, the Deadline story says thatLeah McKendrickpenned the screenplay and has no mention of August at all, which pretty much confirms he’s no longer involved with the picture. I quite enjoyed Haley’sHearts Beat Loud– it was a sweet little dramedy. However, I’ve never been a fan ofGrease, so I can’t say I’m particularly interested in howeverSummer Lovin’turns out. Your mileage may vary.
