NBC’s live version of Peter Pan may feature the world’s first tap-dancing Captain Hook. The network announced today that Christopher Walken has signed on to play the notorious pirate. NBC is still looking for the perfect Peter.
NBC Entertainment Chariman Bob Greenblatt said: He’s one of the most unique actors in our business. He might really just be a song and dance man at heart. … This might be the first tap dancing Captain Hook you’ve ever seen.”
Greenblatt said that casting has been difficult for the live version of Peter Pan. Not only does the actor have to be perfect for the part, they also have to be available for a specific set of dates. Greenblatt said that he was interested in having Kristen Bell play Peter Pan but the actress wasn’t available due to prior commitments.
Still, Greenblatt said that Peter Pan will be played by a woman in NBC’s new live version of the classic book.
Greenblatt said: “We were talking about doing it with a man at one point, but we’ve had several women who wanted to do it and they’re either busy or their schedules don’t work. It’s not like we can film this at any time; I need this person from Aug. 5-Dec. 5, so that knocks out the Kristen Bells of the world, who was somebody I talked to about doing it and she was interested but she’s doing House of Lies … It’s tricky finding the right person in the schedule that we need it but we’re actually close. [Peter is] going to be female.”
This will be the second consecutive year that NBC has aired a live musical. Last year the network put on a live version of The Sound Of Music.
Walken started his career in musicals and has been known to break out the dance moves from time to time.
Are you excited to see Christopher Walken take on Captain Hook?
Walken said: “I started my career in musicals and it’s wonderful after all this time, at this point in my career, to be in this classic musical I watched as a child and to work with Neil Meron and Craig Zadan again after Hairspray. It’s a chance to put on my tap shoes again.”
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