Paul Williams is working on a stage musical adaptation of Phantom of the Paradise.

      "Phantom of the Paradise," the cult classic 1974 film directed by Brian de Palma that reinterpreted "Phantom of the Opera," stars songwriter Paul Williams as the scheming music producer known as Swan. It is being adapted into a stage musical by Williams and Sam Pressman, the son of Ed Pressman, who produced the original film.

      “I’m thrilled to finally have the opportunity to create what fans have wanted for years… POTP as a stage musical,” said Williams in a statement to MovieMaker. “I believe its time has come!”

      Alongside his role in the film, which was both written and directed by De Palma, Williams composed the music and created the songs. Pressman shared with MovieMaker that he and Williams have approached several potential writers for the stage adaptation, including Bret Easton Ellis, the author of "American Psycho" and "The Shards," although no agreements have been finalized.

      Pressman expressed excitement about the dinner he had with Williams and Ellis, remarking, “Bret is such a genuine fan of Phantom and Paul; it was fantastic to connect them in person.”

      Ellis has referenced their meeting on his podcast, although nothing has been confirmed regarding the writer for the stage production.

      When asked about De Palma’s possible involvement in the new stage adaptation, Pressman indicated that there are potentially “different paths… it’s still very early.”

      De Palma has contemplated a stage musical version of "Phantom of the Paradise" for many years. Pressman revealed that he recently revisited a libretto De Palma created for a possible stage rendition back in 1987 and has discussed this project with him.

      “We definitely want to honor Brian,” Pressman mentioned. “Last fall, I met with him to discuss the dream. Phantom was an early and important film for him and I’d say it’s my father’s favorite of his career. The chaos and originality of the whole experience were profoundly inspiring.”

      Pressman indicated that the objective is to launch the stage production “not on Broadway,” but to “develop towards that goal.”

      Following Ed Pressman’s death in 2023, Sam Pressman has taken over Pressman Film. The company's portfolio includes titles such as "Wall Street," "The Crow," and Mary Harron’s adaptation of "American Psycho."

      Sam Pressman, an actor and producer raised on film sets, has produced films including Harron’s recent "DaliLand" and the upcoming 2024 remake of "The Crow," featuring Bill Skarsgård.

      The original "Phantom of the Paradise" featured William Finley as Winslow Leach, a naïve singer-songwriter deceived by Swan into sacrificing his life's work. In a quest for revenge, Winslow dons a sinister silver mask that alters his voice to a harsh rasp, wreaking havoc at Swan’s new concert venue, The Paradise, while demanding that his music be performed by Phoenix, a character played by soon-to-be Suspiria star Jessica Harper.

      Williams is heralded as one of the most successful and influential songwriters in history, having collaborated with artists from Barbra Streisand to The Carpenters to Daft Punk. His most recognized works include the Oscar-nominated “Rainbow Connection” from 1979’s "The Muppet Movie," and “Evergreen” from the 1976 Streisand film "A Star Is Born,” for which he wrote the lyrics and won a Grammy and an Oscar.

      At the time De Palma enlisted him for "Phantom of the Paradise," Williams was primarily known for writing The Carpenters' hits “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays,” as well as Bobby Sherman’s “Cried Like a Baby” — along with his comedic appearances on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson."

      However, "Phantom of the Paradise" allowed him to explore darker themes: His timeless and possibly demonic character Swan behaves like a cult leader, wielding power through music.

      De Palma wrote and directed the film long before gaining recognition for classics such as "Carrie," "Scarface," and "The Untouchables." At that time, he was primarily known for underground films like "Greetings" (1968) and "Hi Mom" (1970), both featuring a young Robert De Niro, and the well-received horror movie "Sisters" (1972) with Margot Kidder. De Palma hoped that "Phantom of the Paradise" could become his commercial breakthrough.

      The film, released by 20th Century Fox, did not perform well at the box office and received mixed reviews: Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas described it as “delightfully outrageous,” while The New York Times’ Vincent Canby labeled it “an elaborate disaster.”

      However, similar to the iconic mid-’70s rock musical "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," it quickly garnered a devoted following that appreciated its artistry and unapologetic quirkiness.