Jackman is joined on the big screen by Zac Efron and teen sensation Zendaya, which adds appeal for a younger demographic as well. Efron takes on the role of the privileged Philip Carlyle, who Barnum convinces into joining his troupe as his protege. Despite being born into the upper class, Carlyle himself struggles to find where he belongs, especially when his affections grow for the pink-haired trapeze artist played by Zendaya. The chemistry on screen between Efron and Zendaya is undeniable, as the two present the story of star-crossed lovers mixed up in the pressures of societal expectations and desire. Their slow-motion duet number is simply magical and arguably one of the film’s best sequences.
Source: 20th Century Fox
Another noteworthy actress is Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Opera singer Jenny Lind. Her solo performances are the few numbers in the film that are presented in a bare minimum way with a single spotlight and a solo voice, yet her performance of “Never Enough” is powerful, transcendent and worthy of goosebumps. That being said, it’s really Loren Allred who deserves the credit here, as she performs all of Ferguson’s vocal tracks.
Oscar-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, best known for their work in La La Land, are the powerful forces behind The Greatest Showman’s musical vision. Their work has already been acknowledged and nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe for the best original song in a motion picture for the song “This is Me.”
Along with the musical talent comes the choreography behind the impeccably coordinated group dance numbers. The birds-eye view shots and quick moving frames show off the intricacy and timely coordination of each individual person into making the group numbers as lively and vibrant as they are.
The costume design is also quite remarkable with up to 800 unique pieces included in the film. Emmy Award-winning designer Ellen Mirojnick perfectly encapsulated the time-period by putting Jackman and Efron in the classic circus showrunner getup but still using modern textures and fashion-forward shapes that are worthy of a Vogue editorial spread.
Source: 20th Century Fox