NEW YORK: Luxury cruise line Cunard and 20th Century Fox Film partnered to host the world premiere of “The Greatest Showman” on the greatest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, while the ship was docked in New York. This was the first time a Hollywood movie premiere took place on a passenger ship.
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“The Greatest Showman” cast including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya, Director Michael Gracey and Oscar and Tony winning musical duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul walked the red carpet on board Cunard’s flagship ocean liner just before the film was shown in the ship’s Illuminations theater. Family and friends gathered in the Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea, to sip Moet as Captain Philpott, Master of Queen Mary 2, toasted the evening. Circus acts and fireworks delighted the crowd and the night was nothing less than spectacular.
Debuting in theaters on December 20, “The Greatest Showman” is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
During his life, P.T. Barnum sailed multiple times on various Cunard ships to cross the Atlantic between New York and England. Scenes from the movie were shot in the original U.S. headquarters of Cunard, a magnificent Italian Renaissance-style landmark building located at 25 Broadway in lower Manhattan. In addition, many scenes were shot in Brooklyn, Queen Mary 2’s U.S. homeport.
Cruise industry executives including Carnival Corp CEO Arnold Donald, Carnival UK CEO Stein Kruse, Carnival UK President Josh Weinstein, Cunard Senior Vice President Simon Palethorpe and Cunard Senior Vice President Josh Leibowitz were on hand at the premiere to mingle with event guests such as 20th Century Fox Film’s Chairman and CEO Stacey Snider and other Hollywood insiders.
“The Greatest Showman’s” Emmy Award winning costume designer Ellen Mirojnick remained on board to sail on the Transatlantic Crossing to England immediately following the premiere, offering talks on her career and showcasing her designs from the movie while mingling with guests.
