New ‘The King and I’ Musical in the Works From Paramount, Temple Hill
Also Read: How 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Screenwriter 'Touched the Sleeve of Greatness' in August Wilson's Classic Play (Video)The musical is from famed duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and was based on the 1944 novel by Margaret Landon titled “Anna and the King of Siam.” The novel was based on true events in the 1860s, when the king hired an English schoolteacher.The musical first debuted in 1951 to critical and commercial acclaim, and won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Actress (Gertrude Lawrence) and Best Actor (Yul Brynner).Also Read: Nicole Kassell to Direct 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' for New LineThe musical was then adapted into a movie in 1956, with Brynner reprising his role as the king, and Deborah Kerr starred as Anna.