‘Saga’ Creators Still Say No Movie, But A Lin-Manuel Miranda Musical? Sure!
For a comic series that will not be adapted into a film or television show at any point in the near future, I sure have written many words aboutSagaon this film and television website. Perhaps it’s becauseSaga, written byBrian K. Vaughanand illustrated byFiona Staples, is one of the best comics I’ve ever read. Maybe it’s because I’m just tickled by two comic creators deliberately shunning the fat paycheck that would come with selling the rights. Eh, it’s both!
But now, Vaughan and Staples have opened the door just a crack: they wouldn’t say no toHamilton’sLin-Manuel Mirandamaking a musical adaptation.
In a new interview withVulture(ahead of the comic beginning a new story arc next month), Vaughan and Staples made it clear that yes, they were aware thatThor: Ragnarokstar Tessa Thompsonhas declared that she’d love to star in aSagamovieand while they’re flattered, they still have no plans to adapt the series.
But then the interviewer throws them a curveball: what about Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony-award winning artist who wrote and starred in Broadway’sHamiltonbefore receiving an Oscar nomination for his songwriting in Disney’sMoana? As wacky as this connection may seem, Miranda had praisedSagato theNew York Times, saying the R-rated sci-fi space opera was “an incredible world in which to get lost.” Nowthisseemed to get the attention of Vaughan and Staples:
Vaughan:Yeah, I love that column about creators and books in theTimes, so I was reading it myself when I saw that epicSagashout-out. We’ve never spoken with Mr. Miranda, but seeingHamiltonon stage was one of the greatest experiences of my artistic life, and it’s a ridiculous honor to know he reads our work. I know I said we’re not pursuing adaptations, but if Lin-Manuel ever wants to mount aSagamusical, it’s all his, wouldn’t you say, Fiona?
Staples:Absolutely! I bet Fard has great pipes.
Those of you who have readSagaand know Fard will get that joke. Everyone else…maybe don’t Google that. Trust me. Please.
This is all very silly and it’s not going to happen (likeever), but I love this for two reasons. First, it’s always lovely to see artists from disparate fields appreciate one another’s work. Knowing that the team behind a filthy adults-only space opera about the difficulties of parenting in a dangerous galaxy appreciates the work of a genius songwriter and composer who spent years adapting the life of Alexander Hamilton into a hip-hop stage musical (and vice versa) makes me happy! Second, Miranda is actually perfectly suited to adaptSaga, as his attention to character and his ability to condense massive swaths of story into a single memorable song would be a perfect fit for this sprawling comic series.
But for now, we’ll just have to make do withSagabeing a great comic and MirandaadaptingThe Kingkiller Chroniclesfor Showtime.
