Recent discussions have revealed that Peter Filardi, the mind behind the 1996 teen horror classic, The Craft, has been approached regarding the possibility of transforming the film into an enthralling Broadway musical, sources at Bloody Disgusting have revealed.
In an exclusive interview, Filardi shared insights from the set of his current project, Damn Handy, a short film he is both writing and directing. He expressed his surprise at the prospect, stating, “[The Craft] was my story, and I got the story credit, so that gives me something called separate rights, which covers theater. I didn’t even know that!”
Filardi further explained, “These people with a track record of doing Broadway musicals approached me and asked me if I had the rights and if I was interested. Once lawyers determined that I did have the rights, I said, ‘I’m definitely interested.’ I’ve just given them a free shopping agreement, and they’re going to try to set it up.”
Expressing enthusiasm, he added, “I would love it if it happened.”
The film, co-written by Filardi and director Andrew Fleming, delves into the lives of four teenage outcasts navigating the unforeseen consequences of dabbling in witchcraft.
“I’m honored that someone would want to reinterpret my work in a different way. I’m completely open to whatever anybody does with it. I’m not particularly precious about any of my work. I had my crack at it, and I’m happy to see others take the ball and run. Even if it just became a little off-Broadway thing, that would be fun for me too. Fingers crossed!” Filardi expressed.
Reflecting on the ongoing appeal of The Craft, Filardi attributed its lasting resonance to its timeless themes. “I think it’s the theme. It’s being an outsider and finding a voice,” he elaborated.
“When I was first talking about it to producers, they were of the mind that the witches would be the overlords of the school, like a Lost Boys type of thing. I was of a completely different mindset. I just knew that, historically, magic, witchcraft, and Wicca were weapons of the underclass. They’re the last resort of people who don’t have a king or an army or a church behind them. They’re the people of the heathens, so they would turn to magic and witchcraft. That’s sort of the type of person I felt like in high school,” he chuckled.
“Magic in general, I think, works best when there’s a real need; an emotional need. It’s the power of adolescent pain. And I think that’s why it resonates: because that’s never going away.”
Filardi also praised Andrew Fleming’s contribution, stating, “Andy Fleming brought so much style and fun to the project. Ultimately, you don’t get to choose. You can’t go out and say, ‘I’m gonna make a cult film.’ You make the best film you can make, and then the audience decides. It’s up to them, 100%. They have decided that The Craft and Flatliners are worth revisiting all these years later, which is very flattering.”
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