What took so long? With virtually every Hollywood hit being transformed
into a Broadway musical, it was only a matter of time before Rob Reiner’s
beloved, “The Princess Bride” underwent its own theatrical transformation. Well, that time has apparently arrived, with Disney Theatrical
Productions announcing that screenwriter/novelist William Goldman will be
working on an adaptation to finally bring Buttercup to Broadway.

Actually, “Princess Bride” was Broadway bound nearly a decade ago, with
“Light in the Piazza” composer Adam Guettel onboard for a musical version.
Those plans fell through, however, and the project has been dormant while
seemingly a zillion other movie-based musicals hit the Street (“Big Fish”,
“Sister Act”, “Young Frankenstein”, “Ghost”, "Tarzan", "Newsies", “The Wedding Singer”, “The Color Purple”, etc. etc. etc.).
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Disney chair Alan Horn, who was at
Castle Rock during the making of the 1987 film version, has been
instrumental in bringing the project back to life. There’s no timetable
yet, or even word on whether the stage version will be a play or musical.

Goldman’s 1973 novel, which Reiner cinematized in 1987, tells of a
grandfather reading his favorite book to his grandson, who is barely
tolerant at first but gradually gets caught up in the story. Mandy
Patinkin, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright (pre-Penn), Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk,
Fred Savage and Andre the Giant were among the stars of the film, which
stands with “This is Spinal Tap” as Reiner’s most fondly remembered films to date.