Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Siegfried & Roy ready to tell their story on the big screen

Siegfried & Roy

Cashman Photo

Ten years later These days, Siegfried and Roy spend most of their time at their Little Bavaria compound in Las Vegas.

Many years ago, Siegfried & Roy were the focus of the animated series, “Father of the Pride.” The series was developed by Jeffrey Katzenberg and the company DreamWorks Animation and was slotted on NBC.

The problem with “Father of the Pride” was not in its quality or the appeal of its subjects. It was its timing. It debuted Aug. 31, 2004, less than a year after Roy Horn was dragged offstage at the Mirage by the big cat Mantecore, an incident that nearly took his life and left him partially paralyzed.

In the years since, the duo have been the focus of speculation that they would be the focus of a full-length biopic. That project is becoming a reality, as S&R have reportedly signed on for a film version of their lives and careers.

As reported early Monday by the Hollywood Reporter, the duo have enlisted Philipp Stolzl, who directed “The Physician,” to head up the project. Screenwriter Jan Berger is to draft the script, with the German studio UFA Fiction and chief executive officer Nico Hofmann producing.

S&R are the credited executive producers through their S&R Enterprise company, joined by Sebastian Werninger and Jan Mewes. Visual effects are being designed by Pixomondo, which has developed visuals for “Game of Thrones” and "The Walking Dead.”

Lest we forget, before the incident involving Mantecore (who died of natural causes in 2014), S&R were among the most famous and successful entertainers ever in Las Vegas. They opened at the Mirage in 1990 and entertained upwards of 25 million fans before their show was abruptly halted.

The duo told THR that Siegfried and Roy said they were “excited and very honored” that Hofmann, “Germany's most successful film producer,” is developing their story in a feature-length film.

Hofmann said: “This isn't just a story of two Germans who became world stars,” he said, “it is, above all, a story of diving into the world of magic. Siegfried and Roy's life's work is an almost unbelievable source of energy and creativity.”

No timeline has yet been reported or announced regarding the beginning of shooting for the film, or its exact location. The duo spend much of their time at their Little Bavaria compound in Las Vegas, and have been known to visit their Secret Garden habitat, unannounced, at the Mirage.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow Kats on Instagram Instagram.com/JohnnyKats1.

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