LOS ANGELES, April 4 ― The cult classic 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray is headed to the stage ― in musical form, no less, with a premiere set for 2017. While it's been in the works for some time, it may not seem the most likely candidate for adaptation. Below, a few other unlikely movies-turned-musicals.
The musical version of “Groundhog Day,” reports Variety, is coming from composer-lyricist Tim Minchin and other creators behind the current Broadway adaptation “Matilda.” Previews will begin January 23, 2017 ahead of a March 9 opening at a yet-to-be-announced theater.
Didn't see that coming? Here are five other surprising adaptations:
“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”
This now famous (and infamous) 2011 musical is based on Spider-Man comics as well as Sam Raimi's 2002 film. Bono and The Edge were charged with converting decidedly un-musical source material into music and lyrics. A Broadway run ended in January 2014, with a North American tour on the horizon.
“Grey Gardens”
Who would have imagined that this offbeat documentary could be a successful play, and a musical one at that? The 1975 documentary about the eccentric mother and daughter “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” Beale found its way to the stage in 2006 and earned many awards in its Broadway and Off-Broadway runs.
“American Psycho”
This 2013 musical is actually based on Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel but comes after the 2000 film adaptation. The daily goings-on of serial killer Patrick Bateman are set to music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, and following a London debut, the play is said to be opening on Broadway in spring 2016.
“Big”
The 1988 coming-of-age movie starring Tom Hanks does feature “Chopsticks” in a famous scene, but other than that, the team was starting from scratch when they set the story to music for “Big: the musical.” Nominated for several Tonys, the show ran on Broadway in 1996, followed by a national tour.
“Silence of the Lambs”
Of course, a tongue-in-cheek adaptation goes down a little easier when we're taking about the beyond-creepy 1991 movie about serial killer Hannibal Lecter. “Silence! The Musical” offered up a parody that premiered in New York in 2005 and has played in London and off-Broadway. ― AFP-Relaxnews
