A Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants musical was announced nearly a decade ago, and the original movie’s director has weighed in on the long-awaited project. Based on the eponymous novel by Ann Brashares, the 2005 movie follows a group of friends who are growing up and growing apart as they begin their adult lives. However, they’re all linked together by a mysterious pair of pants that manage to fit them all despite their disparate sizes. A quintessential coming-of-age film from the 2000s, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was followed by a sequel a few years later.
A third film began development in 2018, and a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants musical was also announced the same year. Now, nearly a decade later, original film director Ken Kwapis has spoken candidly about the aforementioned musical in an exclusive interview with ScreenRant. When asked if the project was still happening, Kwapis confessed his ignorance about the project. “I think somebody was trying to put together a Sisterhood musical,” said Kwapis, before conceding, “I don’t have enough information to say any more.“
Kwapis was then asked if he was the right person for the job of directing the musical version of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and he offered a mixed response. Kwapis said “I would love to…I don’t feel like I’m necessarily the person to direct a big spectacle, but I love musicals.”
ScreenRant: Obviously, you’ve got your hands full, but I was reading an AMA thread you did a few years back where you said that you would love to direct a musical. I’m curious whether that’s still on the table. In 2018, it was announced that a Sisterhood musical was happening. It has not happened.
Ken Kwapis: Well, you’ll have to do some homework on this. I think somebody was trying to put together a Sisterhood musical. I just don’t know who. I don’t have enough information to say any more, but I know that there was some effort towards that. Frankly, they would make a great musical!
I wish I knew more. When I heard about it, I thought, “Oh, that’s a wonderful idea.” But musicals take so long to get off the ground that, for all I know, it’s still in the works. I just don’t know.
ScreenRant: Would you still want to direct a musical? They’re making Mama Mia 3, so…
Ken Kwapis: Well, I would love to. Nothing would make me happier than to direct a wonderful, character-driven musical. I don’t feel like I’m necessarily the person to direct a big spectacle, but I love musicals. The idea of singing characters makes me very happy.
What Kwapis’ Comments Mean For The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Musical
The Filmmaker Could Be Out Of The Loop Or The Project Could Be Stalled
As Kwapis mentioned in his interview with ScreenRant, musicals take a long time to craft, and they don’t move along as fast as traditional movies. However, the lack of news for nearly a decade seems to suggest that the coming-of-age classic isn’t going to return in musical form any time soon. Kwapis might not be the best source of news on the subject since he isn’t directly tied to the production, but if he doesn’t know anything, there likely isn’t anything to know.
Kwapis was replaced by Sanaa Hamri in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.
Our Take On The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Musical
The Moment Has Likely Pᴀssed For The Musical
Nostalgia is certainly a strong motivator, but it’s hard to say that the 20-year-old Aughts comedy is necessarily the best pick to return in the 2020s
With 17 years pᴀssing since The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, I think the time for a threequel or musical adaptation has pᴀssed. Nostalgia is certainly a strong motivator, but it’s hard to say that the 20-year-old Aughts comedy is necessarily the best pick to return in the 2020s. Besides that, musical adaptations of movies have been hit or miss, and recent releases like Mean Girls failed to live up to the strengths of its source material. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a great 2000s movie, but a botched musical could taint its reputation.
