Few composers have commanded the stage and flirted with film the way Andrew Lloyd Webber has. A titan of musical theater, Webber is responsible for epoch-defining masterpieces like The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Cats, each one carving a permanent place in Broadway and West End history. His music transcends curtain calls, becoming cultural shorthand for grandeur and drama. With multiple Tony Awards, an Academy Award, and a knighthood, he has shaped entertainment as few others have. Yet one cinematic obsession has remained unfulfilled.

For thirty-five years, Andrew Lloyd Webber has dreamed of adapting a 1950 film noir classic, his ultimate theatrical passion project.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 35 year obsession unveiled

At the 2025 Tony Awards, Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed that his long-standing cinematic dream has always centered on Billy Wilder’s 1950 noir classic Sunset Boulevard. The revelation came just moments after his 2024 stage revival of the same name won Best Revival of a Musical. Webber first adapted the film into a musical in 1993, expressing a deep connection to its themes of faded fame, obsession, and theatrical tragedy, elements that align closely with his artistic signature.

Andrew Lloyd Webber shared that he has envisioned a full film adaptation of Sunset Boulevard for the past thirty-five years. The success of the recent stage revival, along with renewed audience interest, has only intensified his ambition to see the original story reimagined on screen in a grand cinematic form.

The fact that Andrew Lloyd Webber was, and remains, obsessed with adapting the film only underscores its enduring brilliance and cultural impact.

The magnificence of Sunset Boulevard

Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring masterpieces, a chilling exploration of ambition, delusion, and decay. Released in 1950, it arrived at the tail end of a decade that gave the world some of Hollywood’s best movies of the 1940s that are still a must watch today. With its haunting performances and razor-sharp commentary, the film continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the era’s most powerful cinematic achievements.

What makes Sunset Boulevard so unforgettable is its unflinching look at the dark side of stardom. Gloria Swanson’s portrayal of Norma Desmond is a triumph of theatrical madness, while William Holden’s weary charm grounds the story in tragic realism. Franz Waxman’s score, John Seitz’s cinematography, and Wilder’s brilliant direction come together in perfect noir harmony. More than a film, it is a cautionary tale wrapped in glamor, and it remains devastatingly relevant.

Were you able to guess which film he was obsessed with? Let us know in the comments below.