Arthur Laurents has announced that he will no longer turn the Broadway musical Gypsy into film. Barbra Streisand was eyeing the role of Mama Rose, as was announced back in January.

Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents are co-writers of the original 1959 musical.

Recently, Stephen Sondheim asked Arthur Laurents why he wanted the film project:

"He said, 'What is the point of it?' And I said, 'They have this terrible version with Rosalind Russell wearing those black and white shoes.' And then Stephen Sondheim told me something that he got from the British -- and it's wonderful. He said, 'You want a record because the theater is ephemeral. But that's wrong. The theater's greatest essence is that it is ephemeral. You don't need a record. The fact that it's ephemeral means you can have different productions, different Roses on into infinity.'

"So I don't want it now. I don't want a definitive record. I want it to stay alive.

"I think [Barbra Streisand] is disappointed. She wanted very much to do it. That would have been a good exit for her career. Tom Hooper [The King's Speech] wanted to direct it. I think he's wonderful."