A live-action version of the beloved fantasy novel The last unicorn by Peter S. Beagle is reportedly in the works, as is a musical with singer-songwriter Fergie. The report comes from the FAQ page on the Beagleverse website (via RBC), and few details are available. Beagleverse is a newly created entertainment company founded by Lauren Sands and Michael Heard in partnership with Beagle. The only information about the live-action adaptation and the musical is that “both are in the works. Musical starring Fergie. Live-action adaptation produced by Beagleverse”. There has been no other official confirmation or announcement regarding either project, although Playbill reported in 2014 that Fergie and then-husband Josh Duhamel were working on an adaptation.
First published in 1968, The last unicorn is a fantasy classic that tells the story of a unicorn who believes she is the last of her kind in the world and, therefore, goes on a quest to find out what happened to the others. The beloved book was adapted into an animated film produced by Rankin-Bass Productions in 1982 with a script written by Beagle. This film featured the voices of Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury and Christopher Lee and became a cult classic, although it was not a particularly commercially successful film when it was released. initial. The story has also had two previous stage adaptations, one presented by the Intiman Playhouse in Seattle in partnership with Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1988 – Beagle wrote the screenplay for this adaptation. The second stage adaptation dates from 2009 and was presented in Chicago by the Promethean Theater Ensemble.
A live-action adaptation of the film has already been discussed and in 2006 Continent Films unveiled a website for the project then in development, but nothing really came of the project, possibly due to legal issues surrounding copyrights. The last unicorn. Beagle sued its former manager in 2015, alleging elder abuse and fraud. Beagle eventually won and as of March 2021 regained creative control over The last unicorn and all projects based on his current work and anything he writes in the future. The Beagleverse website links to the actual decision and notes that while there are still websites under the control of the former Beagle manager, the Beagleverse website is the “best source for all things Peter S. Beagle.” .
Are you interested in a live adaptation of The last unicorn? What do you think of a musical? Let us know in the comments.