Rebecca Ferguson doesn’t think ‘The Greatest Showman’ needs a sequel.
The 41-year-old actress appeared opposite Hugh Jackman, 56, in the 2017 musical movie as Jenny Lind – the opera singer who abandons P.T. Barnum’s Circus – though has now stressed the film shouldn’t get a follow-up because it “should just be left” as a standalone.
When Collider suggested the idea of a sequel to the ‘Dune’ star, she said: “No! Stop that. Come on!
“Sometimes things should just be left … also because I’d be jealous. I feel like my character was kind of cast aside. I’ll come back as a juggler.”
‘The Greatest Showman’ – which also starred Zendaya, Zac Efron, Keala Settle and Michelle Williams – follows visionary showman P.T. Barnum (Jackman) on his journey to become a global star through his revolutionary circus.
Ferguson had previously insisted ‘The Greatest Showman’ was “beautiful in its own entity” and didn’t need expanding on.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2, the ‘Mission: Impossible’ actress said: “Why do you need to continue something that already has its brilliance? It was so beautiful in its own entity.”
On a budget of approximately $84 million, ’The Greatest Showman’ went on to gross over $174.3 million in the U.S. and Canada, with a global taking of over $469 million.
Ferguson admitted she didn’t expect ‘The Greatest Showman’ to be such a hit, especially with children.
She added: “I wasn’t expecting the film and soundtrack to be recognised by so many people. Kids love the film, the poor parents know all the songs off by heart.”
While Ferguson is adamant a sequel doesn’t need to happen, Jackman insisted in July he was open to reprising his role of Barnum again in a follow-on flick.
He told E! News: “I love that movie, and I loved everything about it. So yeah, I’m open.”
In the joint interview with his ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ co-star Ryan Reynolds, 48, the actor jokingly asked Jackman: “What are you so afraid [of]? Give us a sequel! My kids want it even!”
The ‘Logan’ star replied: “If I say no or yes or anything, no one believes me anymore. I said I was never playing Wolverine again. So, whatever.”
This wasn’t the first time Jackman had expressed his interest in making a second ‘The Greatest Showman’ film, as the actor said in 2022 he would consider returning to the ring if the story was strong enough.
During an interview with People magazine, he said: “I’m always open, if they come up with a good idea. Yeah, I’m open.”
Jackman also joked about his history with making sequels and pointed to his time as Wolverine in 20th Century Studios’ ‘X-Men’ franchise.
He continued: “Listen, if you know anything about my filmography, you’d know I’m totally against sequels in every shape or form. No more than nine films!”
