Cameron Mackintosh's Plans for Miss Saigon Movie Hinge on the 'Success' of Les Miz

If renowned producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has his way, not only will the upcoming movie adaptation of Les Miserables become a box office sensation, but the film's popularity will pave the way for another high-profile stage to screen transfer.

“If Les Miz is a success then Miss Saigon will be made into a film,” Mackintosh recently told British newspaper The Telegraph. “It isn’t confirmed at this point, but there are many people sniffing around and offers coming in.”

Quick history lesson: Mackintosh produced the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon in 1991, which ran for almost 10 years and marked another success for Mackintosh and Les Miserables composers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil. 

Set shortly before the Fall of Saigon, the musical follows the romance of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier during the Vietnam War. The original production remains the eleventh longest-running Broadway show in history and earned Tony Awards for stars Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga. 

“I am in that glorious position where I can redesign and repackage my own work,” said Mackintosh of his plans to tackle a Saigon film. Rumors of a big screen adaptation have been swirling over the past years including the possibility of Precious director Lee Daniels taking on the project. Recent American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez's name has also been floated as a possible star. 

Before he can set his sights on Vietnam, Mackintosh still has some French work to do. “The promotion of Les Miz worldwide will take a whole month,” said Mackintosh. “You can spend more time publicizing a project than you do making it.” Bring on the Les Miz publicity tour, and here's hoping the movie is a hit so Mackintosh can get to work on Miss Saigon! 

Click below to watch Pryce perform "The American Dream" at the 1991 Tony Awards!