Fox has fast-tracked a movie adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway smash musical Spamalot. The studio has Eric Idle writing the script, and they’ve set Casey Nicholaw as director. Nicholaw was the choreographer on the original Broadway production of Spamalot, which was directed by the late Mike Nichols.
Monty Python vet Idle is producing. Jeremy Kramer is overseeing a project that will be casting soon and begin shooting next spring. The musical was based on the Arthurian legend that informed the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and insiders said this of the movie’s ambition: It’s more than just an adaptation, it’s the movie musical based on the Broadway musical, based on a movie that is based on the legend.
He was on the phone from Los Angeles, where he spent the weekend penning new music for the still-in-development film based on his hit Broadway musical, “Spamalot.” And if you’re wondering, Mr. Idle said Tiffany Haddish has been offered the role of the Lady of the Lake and that the script has mostly been “solved.”
Q: This is a good time to ask about the “Spamalot” film and how it’s going so far.
Eric Idle: It’s always hard to tell. The film business is such an idiotic business. It’s chaos and confusion as usual. Fox bought it from me and John Du Prez about three years ago. We have been working on it. We have the wonderful Casey Nicholaw directing it and we have interest from lots of wonderful stars and actors. So we’re hoping to shoot it next year. I can tell you we’re very excited.
Paramount Pictures has acquired Spamalot, and the studio will be the one to mount a movie production based on the hit Broadway musical.
The project comes to Paramount from Fox, where both chairman/CEO Jim Gianopulos and Motion Pictures Group president Emma Watts were when it landed there. The film lost steam when Disney acquired Fox. The good news is the picture is fully developed, with a screenplay by Monty Python troupe member Eric Idle, with songs by Idle and John DuPrez. The director is Casey Nicholaw, who was the choreographer of the original Broadway production. He has worked on this project awhile, and in the interim has become the hottest director and choreographer on Broadway. His credits include Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Mean Girls, The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone and Something Rotten!
The film will be produced by Dan Jinks (American Beauty and Big Fish) and Idle. Jon Gonda, Meg Lewis and Mike Ireland are the execs on the project for Paramount. The plan is to move right to casting and get underway this year.
