Will Ferrell is taking his talents back to Broadway. The consummate funnyman is developing his film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” into a stage musical.
Ferrell and Rachel McAdams starred in the 2020 movie as an Icelandic musical duo who aspire to represent their country in the titular event, a hugely popular international singing competition. Several earworms, like local favorite “Ja Ja Ding Dong,” pop operatic anthem “Lion of Love” and the Oscar-nominated ballad “Husavik,” were written for the film.
“We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,” Ferrell said in a statement. “The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.”
Ferrell, who made his Broadway debut in 2009’s one-man show “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush,” is writing the book of the musical with Harper Steele and Anthony King. Alex Timbers, whose broadway credits include “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “Beetlejuice,” “Gutenberg! The Musical!” and “Here Lies Love,” is directing the show with music by Savan Kotecha. Producers didn’t give a timeline for the show, nor did they announce the cast for Broadway.
“Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes,” said Timbers. “And when I first saw their joyful movie ‘Eurovision’ during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. With this stage adaptation, I can’t wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence and awe to audiences across the world.”
Netflix has been investing in Broadway, having produced the play “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” and the historical drama “Patriots” from “The Crown” creator Peter Morgan.
The real Eurovision Song Contest supports the project’s Broadway ambitions with the organization’s director Martin Green saying, “This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved. Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally.”
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From Variety US