"Kevin and Andrew Macdonald discuss their desired ventures into music and the endeavors that slipped through their fingers"
Scottish Filmmakers Macdonald Brothers Express Interest in Musical Projects
Kevin Macdonald, the acclaimed Scottish filmmaker known for documentaries such as Touching The Void and One Day In September, has expressed a desire to venture into the world of musicals. His brother, Andrew Macdonald, a renowned producer in the film industry, has already dipped his toes into the musical genre with the 2013 film Sunshine On Leith.
During the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), the brothers discussed their careers and projects, highlighting their work on films like Shallow Grave and State of Play but reiterating their interest in future musical projects. Kevin specifically expressed a strong ambition to helm a musical, though they have not yet undertaken such a project together.
Andrew Macdonald, who is also the chair of EIFF and the producer behind DNA Films, has produced one musical in his career, Sunshine On Leith. However, he has not announced any current or upcoming musical projects in collaboration with his brother.
In the past, Kevin Macdonald was given the opportunity to direct State Of Play, conceived as an "all-star, intelligent thriller for adults at $100m". Brad Pitt was initially attached to the cast but ended up dropping out over dissatisfaction with Kevin's vision.
The Macdonald brothers' family business was a sheepskin tannery near Loch Lomond. Despite their success in the film industry, they have been cautious about venturing into television and believe they have not yet cracked it.
Kevin Macdonald has expressed jealousy towards Richard Linklater's project adapting Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. He is currently developing a six-to-eight-part series with Scottish writer, David Harrower.
Andrew Macdonald has worked on an animation project with Alex Garland, but it was not picked up by Sony. Kevin Macdonald, on the other hand, has had an animated documentary about the Thai youth football team that were trapped in a cave cancelled.
In a nod to the changing landscape of filmmaking, Kevin Macdonald is currently using AI as a tool for efficiency on a project he is working on. He has generally tried to alternate between making fiction and non-fiction projects.
One of their most notable collaborations was The Last King Of Scotland, which premiered at Telluride and Toronto in 2006. Kevin directed, while Andrew was an executive producer. The film, which starred Forest Whittaker as Ugandan president Idi Amin, ended up winning Whittaker an Oscar for his performance.
Despite the lack of current musical projects, the Macdonald brothers' interest in the genre remains, and it will be exciting to see if they bring their unique vision to a future musical production.
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