Co-librettist/co-lyricist Hampton is working on a film version of the musical, which he hopes will also star Close, who is returning to the stage musical more than two decades after her original run.
Hampton told London's Standard, "In fact we are looking down the line to make a movie of it later. When we first did Sunset Boulevard it was somehow still too close to the original. Now you have to ask yourself and find a director who would ask 'What is there about this story that was made so perfectly in 1950 that justified me doing it again?'"
About Close starring in a film adaptation, Hampton said, "It is not my decision but as far as I’m concerned that is what I'm thinking. We've just had a series of talks with Paramount so everything is in place and hopefully we can get it done while Glenn is in London."
Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone created the role of Norma Desmond for the musical's 1993 world-premiere production in London, earning an Olivier nomination for her performance. Glenn Close played the role in Los Angeles and later in New York, where she won a 1995 Tony Award for her work as the aging, deluded actress. Other musical Normas include Betty Buckley (London and New York), Elaine Paige (London and New York), Diahann Carroll (Canada), Petula Clark (London and U.S. tour), Debra Byrne (Australia), Helen Schneider (Germany) and Linda Balgord (U.S. tour). Florence Lacey played the role at the Signature Theatre.
Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard is based on Billy Wilder's 1950 movie of the same name, which featured Gloria Swanson as the reclusive Norma Desmond who falls in love with an unlucky writer — Joe Gillis — who happens upon her home by accident. William Holden played Gillis in the film; Swanson, Holden and Wilder all received Academy Award nominations for their work.
