Broadway Musical ‘Jersey Boys’ Coming To The Big Screen
One of the biggest and most celebrated Broadway musicals of the past decade is finally coming to the big screen. The film rights to the Tony award winningJersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasonshave just been purchased in an auction that was rumored to have included Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks, Tom Hanks at Playtone, Warner Brothers and Fox. None of them won, however. The rights were actually sold for a reported “substantial seven figures” toGraham KingandGK Filmswho just releasedThe Townand has an impressive slate of films coming up includingThe Touristwith Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese’s latestHugo Cabaret, the Gore Verbinski filmRangoand others.
Jersey Boysis based on the real life rags to riches story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons who went from the street corners for New Jersey to massive musical success with songs such asOh What A Night, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Rag Doll, Sherry,andCan’t Take My Eyes Off of You.Hit the jump for more on the deal, the musical and even a video.Jersey Boysis one of the most successful shows still running on Broadway. It opened in 2005 and has sold over $1 billion in tickets not only in New York, but all over the world. The show’s success is partially because of its relatable, inspiring story of working hard and fulfilling your dreams but more so because it’s the rare musical where almost everyone who sees it knows all the songs before stepping in to the theater. Below is an example of what the show is like. Notice the awesome way it incorporates live performance and what it would have been like to experience this moment as an audience member on TV. I love this show.
The film version will be written by the same people who wrote the book (basically the script) for the musical, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Musicals have become hot properties ever sinceMamma Miamade $600 million worldwide with versions ofWicked, In the Heightsand others are all in development. ButJersey Boysis easily the most commercial out of the bunch, at least according to the man who bought the rights. “Jersey Boysis one of the most electrifying stage shows any of us has ever seen and it has all the ingredients to become a big commercial hit movie,” King said toDeadline, who broke the story. They also reported that even though the show opened in 2005, the film rights were off the market until six weeks ago.
I’d venture to guess that many /Film readers like yourselves have seenJersey Boysover the years. Do you think it can be a successful film? And, if you were making it, would you keep it as a straight up musical – likeMamma MiaorThe Producers– or make the music less the focus – like inPurple Rain?
