"Back To The Future" London Musical Planned For Film's 30th Anniversary
SAN FRANCISCO - Sci-fi comedy pic "Back to the Future," set in the fictitious Northern California town of 'Hill Valley' is going to London -- as a stage musical.
The film joins the long list of screen-to-stage remakes that includes "Ghost," ''Little Shop of Horrors," and "Flashdance."
Producers of the musical unveiled plans for the stage adaption Thursday, starring Michael J. Fox and set to open in London's West End, in 2015. The opening coincides with the 30th anniversary of the original film.
When Oscar-winning director Robert Zemekis ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit," ''Forrest Gump," "The Polar Express," "Flight") made "Back to the Future" in 1985, there was lots of music. "The Power of Love," by 'Huey Lewis and the News' was the theme song as human guinea pig, McFly traveled through time in his DeLorean.
The original film spawned two sequels. Whether or not this stage show makes it to Broadway depends on the success of the London run.
The musical will have a book by Zemekis, Bob Gale and Jamie Lloyd and new music and lyrics by composer Alan Silvestri and songwriter and record producer Glen Ballard.
"The production will include illusions, skateboarding and many other surprises that will capture the spirit of the film but freshly interpret it for a new audience," said Lloyd, who will direct the musical.
Lloyd has numerous directing credits, including "Cyrano de Bergerac" on Broadway. Gale, who co-wrote the film version with Zemekis, has written comic books, including issues of "Batman."
Three-time Grammy winner Sylvestri has scored films for Zemekis before, including "Romancing the Stone," "Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away." Six-time Grammy winner Ballard wrote for Alanis Morissette and co-wrote the stage musical adaptation of "Ghost."
The producers of the "Back to the Future" musical will include Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, Colin Ingram, Universal Stage Productions, Donovan Mannato and CJ E&M.