The Greatest Showman dazzles in first trailer with Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum

Michelle Williams, Zendaya, and Zac Efron also star in the upcoming musical

Step right up, ladies and gentleman — it’s time to head under the big top with The Greatest Showman.

The big-screen musical starring Hugh Jackman as circus maestro P.T. Barnum released its first trailer on Wednesday morning, giving a dazzling new look at the film.

Directed by Michael Gracey and featuring songs from Oscar and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen), the film follows Barnum from his poverty-stricken childhood to the launch of his first circus in New York. Michelle Williams portrays his wife, Charity, while Zac Efron stars as Barnum’s business partner — who falls in love with a trapeze artist played by Zendaya.

The trailer shows Barnum finding inspiration — and then finding stars — for his famous act. “Every one of us is special, and nobody is like anyone else — that’s the point of my show,” he says, later adding, “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”

While the film is set throughout the 1800s, Jackman previously told EW the film’s music sounds much more current. “We were clear from the beginning that this wouldn’t feel like a period movie or a historical piece,” he explained. “What would Barnum do now? I have an almost-12-year-old daughter. I wanted [the movie] to be as exciting for her as listening to Katy Perry’s new song.”

The Greatest Showman arrives in theaters on Christmas Day. Watch the newly-released trailer above.

Related Articles