海角大神

鈥淧an,鈥� a prequel to the famous 鈥淧eter Pan鈥� story by J.M. Barrie, arrives in theaters today.

It stars actor Levi Miller as Peter and actor Hugh Jackman as the pirate Blackbeard (no, not Captain Hook). Hook, who at this point in the narrative has not yet risen to his iconic villain status, is portrayed by actor Garrett Hedlund.聽

While the story of 鈥淧eter Pan鈥� has been around for more than a hundred years, pop culture seems to be returning to the tale more and more frequently. One of the most famous adaptations of the story came with the 1953 animated movie 鈥淧eter Pan,鈥� which was released by Disney.

But recently the boy who wouldn鈥檛 grow up has been all over the big screen, the small one, and the stage. In 2003, Disney released a live-action take on the story that starred Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Jason Isaacs.

Soon after came the 2004 movie 鈥淔inding Neverland,鈥� about the writing of the tale, which starred 鈥淏lack Mass鈥� actor Johnny Depp as Barrie and earned Depp an Oscar nomination for best actor.

In 2012, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson鈥檚 children鈥檚 novel 鈥淧eter and the Starcatcher,鈥� which like 鈥淧an鈥� is a prequel to Barrie鈥檚 story, premiered on Broadway. It earned good reviews and 鈥淏lackhat鈥� actor 海角大神 Borle earned a Tony Award for聽Best Featured Actor in a Play聽for his role as the pirate Black Stache, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Peter鈥檚 enemy Captain Hook.

After NBC scored with its live musical adaptation of 鈥淭he Sound of Music,鈥� it selected the musical version of 鈥淧eter Pan鈥� for its 2014 holiday production. 鈥淕irls鈥� actress Allison Williams starred in the title role, while actor Christopher Walken starred as Captain Hook (and, fun fact, Mr. Borle must be pretty familiar with this story by now 鈥� in NBC鈥檚 production, he portrayed Mr. Darling as well as Hook鈥檚 sidekick Mr. Smee).

Earlier this year, a musical adaptation of 鈥淔inding Neverland鈥� became the newest 鈥淧eter Pan鈥�-based show to find a home on Broadway, and it鈥檚 still running there. Now we have the movie 鈥淧an鈥� and Disney is planning a live-action movie starring Reese Witherspoon as Tinker Bell, Peter Pan鈥檚 fairy companion.聽

What keeps us returning to the story? The themes of the joys of childhood as well as what it means to leave childhood behind no doubt resonate with many. Interestingly, 鈥淧an鈥� director Joe Wright recently said it was the opposite for him.

鈥淚 always wanted to grow up,鈥� he said in a recent . 鈥淚 hated childhood. I found it a really difficult period of life. I was bullied and I was quite scared a lot of the time ... Peter Pan offered an escape from all of that,鈥� he said.聽

Wright credits the lead character with the enduring appeal of the story.聽

鈥淧eter has incredible courage and fun and so I think that reminds us of childhood in an honest and beautiful way,鈥� he said.