The Greatest Showman sequel: Hugh Jackman reveals work has begun on second film

Hugh Jackman has revealed that a sequel for hit musical The Greatest Showman is in the works – but he’s not sure whether he will be the star.

The 50-year-old actor, who played ringmaster P. T. Barnum in the wildly successful film, said that he “knows” a “treatment” for a second film is already in the early stages of development.

Speaking on Steve Wright’s Big Guests show on BBC Radio 2 to promote his new film Missing Link, Jackman said: “The real answer is ‘could be,’ I’m not sure. I’m being completely honest with you, there is talk of something going around but no one is really sure.

“But I think someone is working on a treatment for something… I know they are, they’re working on a treatment for something.”

He went on to reveal that he would be keen to return to the project, but wasn’t sure if Barnum would be the focus of another film.

“I would like to be a part of it for sure, and I don’t know if it would be centred on my character,” he told Wright.

“The other thing is, it did take eight years to get it made and that wasn’t all eight years of convincing people. It takes a long time to write stuff.”

Jackman’s comments come after Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey told The Sun that he was “working on” a sequel.

“When a movie becomes as big a success as this, it’s only natural there is demand for a sequel,” he said. “So those discussions have started and we are working on one right now.”

The Greatest Showman landed in cinemas in December 2017, and grossed a worldwide total of $435 million (approximately £333 million) at the box office.

The film’s soundtrack also proved to be a huge chart success, and became the UK’s longest-running non-consecutive number one album of the decade at the start of this year, beating the record held by Adele.