does this have potential for such a strong cast and so on...?
Are you referring to Greatest Showman also having the potential to cast a strong slate of singing actors/actresses?
*We do not have an idea of the screenplay or storyline of GREATEST SHOWMAN yet - the only casting confirmed is Hugh Jackman who is the titular lead. There was a report that Zac Efron was in talks for a second lead (a protégé of Barnum), but there has been no confirmation if the talks have ended positively.
*We do not know yet which other key characters are in the storyline.
*In the early part of the year, someone tweeted that she was part of a workshop or a reading for Greatest Showman ( not sure if this was simply to test the musical score and key dance routines and parts of the screenplay...or used for screen test purposes) -- but there was mention of the participation of Broadway stars Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit ( who played Enjolras in in the film adaptation of Les Miserables). Filming is slated to be in New York so the possibility of Broadway actors ( where there is a preponderance of triple threat talents - sing, dance, and act) being in this movie is likely high. Hugh Jackman is of course a very strong part of the Broadway community having been in one musical, two straight plays, and a one-man variety show. He has also hosted the Tony Awards four times and has been the most active contributor to the Broadway charity called Broadway Cares/EFA.
*The major composing team for Greatest Showman (Pasek and Paul) are also conributors to Broadway musicals and so there is a chance that the work has the stamp of musical theatre songs...although their work does seem to have a contemporary vibe.
*Since the film director is linked to major musical commercial ads ( remember when he directed Hugh Jackman in the Tokyo Hotel Dancing commercial for Lipton Tea?) - the casting would probably also need not just singers but people with dancing skills ( such as Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit).
Filming has been confirmed by Hugh Jackman for September -- I guess we will hear about the casting closer to that time?
Btw, because there has already been a successful animated film version as well as a successful musical theatre staging, the casting of Beauty and the Beast is different - the characters from the animated movie and the stage musical are identified and well-defined ( save for any additional characters), so the casting is probably easier to do. The parts are clearly identified in terms of the singing, dancing, and acting requirements. But that cast is particularly leaning towards a British cast ( Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Ian Mckellen as Cogsworth, etc) and with some Broadway actors ( Audra McDonald as Garderobe, Kevin Kline as Maurice) and Hollywood actors ( Stanley Tucci as a Grand Piano and Josh Gad, who has also appeared on Broadway, as LeFou) in other more minor parts.
Maybe Greatest Showman is going to have a stronger American cast, excluding Hugh Jackman ( who was Gaston in the Australian production of Beauty and the Beast) because they seem to be looking at Hollywood and Broadway talent.
It would be interesting to know if there are key female leads.
Just speculating
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