Richard Linklater has shared an encouraging update on one of Hollywood’s most unconventional projects, Merrily We Roll Along. The filmmaker is shooting the musical across two decades, allowing its cast to age naturally with their characters.
Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, Linklater revealed that the production is preparing for its fourth filming section. More importantly, the ambitious project remains on track with its long-term plan.
A Unique Approach to Filmmaking
Merrily We Roll Along is based on Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated 1981 musical. The story follows composer Franklin Shepard and his longtime friends Mary and Charley as their careers, relationships and dreams change over the years.
However, Linklater is taking a very different approach to the adaptation. Instead of filming the entire movie at once, he is returning to the project periodically over 20 years.
The method is similar to his acclaimed 2014 film Boyhood. That movie was filmed over 12 years so its young cast could genuinely grow up on screen.
This time, though, Linklater is taking the experiment even further. The performers will naturally age alongside their characters, removing the need for heavy makeup or digital effects.
Fourth Filming Section Is Coming
The massive production is divided into nine sections. Now, Linklater has confirmed that the fourth section is expected to be filmed within the next few months.
That means the project continues to move forward despite its unusually long schedule. During his Zurich Film Festival appearance, the director even joked with the audience, saying, “See you in 2040.”
The comment perfectly captures the scale of the experiment. While most movies are completed within months or a few years, Merrily We Roll Along is designed to evolve over two decades.
Paul Mescal Leads the Cast
Paul Mescal plays Franklin Shepard, the central character at the heart of the story. Meanwhile, Ben Platt stars as Charley, with Beanie Feldstein portraying Mary.
Their commitment is crucial to the entire concept. Since the film relies on real aging, the actors must return periodically as the production moves through different stages.
As a result, their changing appearances will become part of the storytelling. The audience will not simply watch the characters grow older. They will watch the performers change with them.
Production Has Already Faced Delays
Production on Merrily We Roll Along originally began in 2019. However, the journey has not been completely smooth.
For instance, Mescal eventually replaced Blake Jenner in the role of Franklin. That change required additional filming.
The Hollywood strikes also affected the production schedule. Nevertheless, Linklater has continued working toward his original long-term vision.
More recently, Lin-Manuel Miranda joined the cast. His involvement adds another major musical name to an already impressive ensemble.
Why Is the Film Taking 20 Years?
At first glance, a 20-year production may seem extreme. However, the timeline is directly connected to the story Linklater wants to tell.
Merrily We Roll Along explores friendship, ambition, success and the choices people make throughout their lives. Therefore, real-life aging can add another layer to those themes.
The musical is also told in reverse chronological order. Because of that structure, seeing the actors age naturally could create an especially interesting contrast.
Instead of simply watching the story move backward, audiences will see the performers themselves move forward through real time.
Linklater Has Done This Before
Linklater is no stranger to long-term filmmaking. His 2014 movie Boyhood famously followed a young boy from childhood into adulthood.
The director filmed the project over 12 years. As a result, viewers watched the actors genuinely grow older instead of relying on traditional Hollywood aging techniques.
With Merrily We Roll Along, Linklater is applying a similar idea to a musical. However, the timeline is considerably longer.
This makes the project one of the most unusual productions currently underway.
Keeping the Project Secret Is Harder
There is another major challenge this time around: secrecy.
Linklater managed to keep much of Boyhood under the radar while it was being made. However, that is much harder with Merrily We Roll Along.
The film is based on a famous Sondheim musical. Additionally, its unusual 20-year production has attracted plenty of public attention.
Therefore, Linklater has had to regularly answer questions about the movie’s progress. Every new filming session becomes another milestone for fans following the project.
The Long Timeline Is Part of the Vision
Naturally, a production stretching across two decades raises plenty of questions. Cast availability could change, schedules could shift, and unexpected challenges could emerge.
Still, Linklater appears committed to the process. Rather than treating the long timeline as a problem, he has embraced it as an essential part of the film.
After all, the passage of time is central to the story itself. The characters change because of the choices they make, and the actors will physically change as the years pass.
That connection could ultimately make the filmmaking process inseparable from the movie’s themes.
What Happens Next?
For now, the biggest milestone is the upcoming fourth filming section. Linklater expects that stage to take place within the next few months.
However, several more sections remain before the entire project is completed. So, fans will need to be patient.
Still, the latest update offers an important confirmation: Merrily We Roll Along is still moving forward.
As the cast continues to age in real time, every new filming session brings the movie closer to its ambitious 2040 target.
And for Linklater, the wait is not simply part of the process. The wait is the process.
Stay tuned for more updates on Merrily We Roll Along, Richard Linklater, Paul Mescal and the latest Hollywood news.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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