New Happy Feet Project in Works 14 Years After Last Movie
The Happy Feet franchise is heading back into the spotlight, with a new stage project now in development. An impressive creative team is already assembling behind the scenes to bring the beloved penguins to life. The project marks the franchise’s first new venture in over a decade.
A Happy Feet stage musical is in development
Entertainment Weekly exclusively reports that George Miller’s 2006 animated film Happy Feet is now in development as a stage musical. The original film featured Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, and Brittany Murphy. It follows emperor penguin Mumble, who overcomes adversity through tap dancing.
Happy Feet won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It earned over $384 million worldwide, including $198 million domestically, and spawned a 2011 sequel, Happy Feet Two.
Tony Award-winning producer Dori Berinstein is leading the creative team, bringing experience from Legally Blonde, The Prom, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden will helm the production, while book writer Douglas Lyons, known for Chicken and Biscuits, rounds out the core team.
Puppet designer Basil Twist joins the team to bring penguins to life onstage. He has Broadway credits including The Addams Family and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Choreographers Ayodele Casel and the duo Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher “Cree” Grant will handle movement. The latter duo is also working on The Lost Boys stage adaptation.
The film’s soundtrack featured Prince, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, Queen, and the Beach Boys. The stage version will mix songs from the film with additional pop-culture classics, similar to Moulin Rouge on Broadway.
No premiere date or venue has been announced yet. Happy Feet is the latest project from Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, which also has The Lost Boys and Dog Day Afternoon currently on Broadway, with Crazy Rich Asians and Practical Magic adaptations upcoming.
Source: Comingsoon.net