The legendary Beatles member, Sir Paul McCartney, announced that he’s working on a musical version of the 1946 holiday classic It’s A Wonderful Life.
Britain’s Bill Kenwright will produce the show, he revealed to the New York Post, while Lee Hall will write the screenplay. Previously, Hall has worked with rockers who brought their work to the musical stage like 2005’s Billy Elliot: The Musical, and most recently, he wrote the screenplay for the hit film revolving around Elton John, Rocketman. Hall is reportedly working on writing the book for It’s A Wonderful Life, as well as co-writing lyrics for McCartney to sing.
McCartney revealed that originally, writing a musical wouldn’t have been something that “every really appealed” to him, however, his mind changed.
“Bill and I met up with Lee Hall and had a chat and I found myself thinking this could be interesting and fun,” he said in a statement. “It’s A Wonderful Life is a universal story we can all relate to.”
It’s A Wonderful Life, which was released in 1964, is an American classic. The film revolves around George, who is thinking about ending his life due to various life problems. However, just before jumping off a bridge, he ends up saving his guardian angel Clarence’s life. The angel then shows George what the town would have been like if he was never in it. The inspiring drama was produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the 1939 story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern.
The play will tentatively head to the UK in late 2020 and eventually head to Broadway. According to the Post writer Johnny Oleksinki, who was given the opportunity to hear demos of McCartney’s songs for the project, said that the demos include McCartney performing “every role from George Bailey to Mr. Potter and even tries his hand at acting.” He added that “more than 10 finished songs sound like a bona fide lost Beatles album, with one spectacular number’s rousing ending bringing to mind the ‘Na Na Na Na Na’s of ‘Hey Jude.’”
McCartney wrapped-up his Freshen Up Tour in support of his latest record, Egypt Station.
