When the musical *Merrily We Roll Along* by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth premiered on Broadway in 1981, it was met with failure, shutting down after merely 16 performances and 44 previews. Nevertheless, the musical has accumulated considerable critical and commercial praise as time has passed, especially with its revival on Broadway in 2023. Under the direction of Maria Friedman, this revival showcased Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez in the leading roles of Franklin Shepard, Charley Kringas, and Mary Flynn. The narrative progresses in reverse, starting with a confrontation in 1977 and tracing back to their initial meeting in 1957.

The revival garnered seven nominations for the Tony Awards, winning four, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Groff, Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Radcliffe, and Best Orchestrations. This celebrated production is now accessible on the big screen.

In a discussion, Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez shared insights about the filming process. Radcliffe noted that they recorded three successive night performances along with extra close-ups during the daytime, which alleviated the stress of capturing everything in a single night. Mendez valued the opportunity to observe moments she missed while performing, describing it as a privilege to see the ensemble’s efforts.

Aside from the filmed version from 2023, director Richard Linklater is working on his own adaptation, starring Paul Mescal, Ben Platt, and Beanie Feldstein. His rendition will be shot over a span of 20 years to authentically represent the characters’ development, akin to his movie *Boyhood*. Radcliffe expressed his enthusiasm for Linklater’s endeavor, even though he isn’t personally acquainted with the cast.

Fans of Sondheim can savor the filmed version of the 2023 Broadway revival while looking forward to Linklater’s adaptation. *Merrily We Roll Along* will hit theaters on December 5.