MOVIES - May 2, 1990

Warner Bros. to Film ‘Phantom:’ Warner Bros. will make “The Phantom of the Opera,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical hit about the lovestruck murderer who terrorized the Paris Opera House. Filming is expected to begin late this year, with a scheduled Thanksgiving 1991 release. Michael Crawford, who wound up a 3 1/2-year stage stint as the Phantom on Sunday at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre, will re-create his role in the film. Starring as Christine, the object of the Phantom’s desires, will be Sarah Brightman, who is Lloyd Webber’s wife. The film will be directed by Joel Schumacher, who directed “Cousins” and “The Lost Boys.”