At key moments, the cast will take to the stage to sing alongside the film.
(Get a sneak peek in the video above.)
Youve done this once already, playing Chef Louie inThe Little Mermaidat the Hollywood Bowl.
Steve Granitz/WireImage; Everett Collection
The reason why I would jump on this again is because our country needs this.
Certainly, [we] get out of the way of Gene Wilder.
The orchestra cant follow you; you have to follow them to be perfectly in time with the movie.
Now Im working on singing it with the click tracks.
And this song is in two or three different time signatures.
I have it playing all the time.
Im working on that, and thats frightening.
Its just pushing the limits to what you feel is safe.
I think Ill be okay.
What kind of costume can we expect from you?
A wig?Im not wearing a wig.
When we didThe Little Mermaid, they were like, Just wear a nice shirt, theres no costumes.
I told my assistant, Quick, go get me a big mustache and a beret!
So this time Im ahead of it.
Im sort of doing a bounding version of Willy Wonka.
You kind of get into him, and then he kind of pushes you away.
Thats sort of a good roadmap, I guess, right?
I remember being a kid and not really understanding, what is this guy doing, this Willy Wonka?
Every year since Ive watched that performance and studied it, and its just so layered.
This movie has just picked up over the years, and its kind of likeFuller Housemaybe is.
New generations are finding it.
Youve played Conrad Birdie inBye Bye Birdie.
Any chance of another return to Broadway after doing these live-to-film performances?
Maybe in the newWilly Wonkamusical there?I love that show [theWonkamusical].
I went to that one too in New York.
I havent found anything that really calls to me.
It hit me last night.
What am I doing?
Im standing in front of 20,000 people singing Pure Imagination?
What was I thinking?
Its scary, dont you think?
Youre also working with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron developing a show for Amazon.
I was going to do something inHairspray, but I was busy doingScream Queensor something.
There hasnt been the right one for me.
When they were doingBye Bye Birdie, I threw my hat in for that.
In fact, Neil and I flew up to Vegas to meet J-Lo and see her show and stuff.
That wouldve been great.
And lastly, Wonkas chocolates and candy inventions are a big part of the film.
So Ill find out!
