Gwyneth, Beyonce, Cameron, and Reese: The 'craziest movie musical ever'?

In a move that's splitting critics, Glee's Ryan Murphy is assembling an all-star cast for an original musical comedy about former '90s one-hit wonders

Gwyneth Paltrow
(Image credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Here's the latest in polarizing Hollywood news: Deadline is reporting that Glee creator Ryan Murphy is planning an original movie musical called One Hit Wonders that will star Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Cameron Diaz as former '90s pop stars desperate to relive their glory days. Beyonce will reportedly also take a role, and Saturday Night Live's resident viral video star Andy Samberg ("Dick in a Box") will write the music. According to the report, "The project came out of a dinner that Murphy had at the SoHo House with Paltrow, Diaz, and Witherspoon." The quartet discussed their desire to work together, and settled on One Hit Wonders. Could this unusual film, pegged "the craziest movie musical ever," possibly succeed?

"This could work": This loopy idea has tons of potential, says Sean O'Connell at Cinema Blend. We've already heard Witherspoon's Oscar-winning pipes (Walk the Line), and Murphy's showcased Paltrow's formidable vocals on Glee. While Diaz is more of a question mark, "Beyonce can sing enough for three ladies." Factor in Samberg's catchy SNL-style tunes, and you've got "musical talent in bucketloads." But will this ever come to fruition? Murphy's busy producing Glee and directing Julia Roberts in the upcoming film, Normal Heart — and his A-list cast's schedules aren't exactly open. But if the stars do ever align, sign me up.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Kevin Fallon is a reporter for The Daily Beast. Previously, he was the entertainment editor at TheWeek.com and a writer and producer for TheAtlantic.com's entertainment vertical. He is only mildly embarrassed by the fact that he still watches Glee.