AFTER the success of “The Greatest Showman,” Fox has found its next musical film.

Fox 2000 has picked up an original musical fantasy centering on prolific author Hans Christian Andersen from an A-list musical creative team.

“Wicked” composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz is behind the musical elements of the film, which is being scripted by “Mary Poppins Returns” writer David Magee.

Andersen’s public domain works like “The Little Mermaid,” “The Snow Queen” and “The Ugly Duckling” have long provided fodder for Hollywood.

The studio is already looking to cast a young Andersen, who in the musical gets trapped by his own imagination in the worlds of his own making. “Baby Driver” star Ansel Elgort, who has a side career as a musician, is a top contender for the role.

“The Greatest Showman” has grossed over US$300 million at the global box office and is competing for an Oscar this weekend for the movie’s main anthem, “This Is Me.”(SD-Agencies)