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Good News, Everyone! The Book Of Mormon Is Going To Be A Movie!

By Rob Payne | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (17)

pajibabookofmormonmovie.jpg

Hot on the heels of the barrage of Les Miserables casting news, Trey Parker and Matt Stone were quick to confirm that they will, indeed, be turning their award winning Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon” into a Hollywood musical. That is, they’ll work with co-writer Robert Lopez (who also co-wrote the also brilliant “Avenue Q”) in making a The Book of Mormon: The Musical: The Movie. And because the “South Park” duo are experienced at this sort of thing, they’ll get to be one of the few (only?) Broadway shows afforded the chance to guide the feature film version, too. But that does come with the caveat of having to wait several years so as much can be wrung out of the stage production as Mormonly possible. It’s a little bit of a good news/bad news situation, really.

But I’m terribly excited for the possibility of a movie, because the Parker-Stone machine has proven more than capable of churning out a spectacular adaptation, and unless I get lucky with a touring show, I’ll probably never get a chance to see it. I’ve chosen not to listen to the show’s soundtrack, so that when (gotta stay positive here) I do eventually see it, I want to be surprised. After all, I report trade news for you funderful people, which means I feed off the pre-knowledge of pop culture, so it’s nice to have this one thing that I can really look forward to. As such, I’ve only seen this clip from the Tony’s (whilst doing research for another post):

Fucking. Love. It.

I can be patient, but, the future can’t get here fast enough.

Rob Payne also writes the indie comic The Unstoppable Force (returning with new pages soon!), co-hosts the podcast We’re Not Fanboys (returning with new episodes possibly!), and updates about such things on the Twitter @RobOfWar. He should get lucky with a touring show since he lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, he was just being dramatic.









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Comments

It'll work great as a movie. A lot of the songs can be easily be trimmed down or altered to better fit the running time of a film without killing the joke. The structure of the story is rock solid. Plus, I've never laughed that hard at a musical in my life. It's funny and it has a heart. The MPAA is going to be the big problem, but I trust Matt and Trey know how to get around them at this point.

Posted by: Robert at September 14, 2011 10:36 AM

At least give it five minutes to tour first! Christ, not all of us can fly to NYC to see this thing.

Posted by: Skyler Durden at September 14, 2011 10:39 AM

Like you said, they already have experience bringing a musical to the big screen, even if it was a cartoon, so I'm pretty optimistic they'll do a good job here.

Mostly though I just wanted to say:
Good news everyone! I've discovered a way to make you all hear Professor Farnsworth's voice in your heads.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at September 14, 2011 10:41 AM

Skyler, it starts touring next year in Chicago. They also want to bring it to Utah but nothing is settled on that yet. Other major locations would follow.

This film is years away from happening. No Broadway producer will let the first run of a stageshow be turned into a movie while the stageshow is still doing major record-breaking business on Broadway.

Posted by: Robert at September 14, 2011 10:50 AM

Cannibal! The Musical was hilarious also.

Book of Mormon is the most fun Broadway show I've seen. I was laughing so hard I was embarrassed. I saw it with my sister and my mother and neither are a fan of Stone/Parker but both walked away saying it was their favorite Broadway experience. They did a great job on the music, as usual and it's pointed but in no way scathing. They handle the subject matter with a lot of love and little judgement.

Posted by: becks at September 14, 2011 11:03 AM

The Book of Mormon was the first Broadway musical I've seen in 16 years, and it was worth every damn penny. It's sold out for the next year, but it is possible to get tickets if you camp out for standing-room only or line up for cancelled tickets.

My only fear is that they'll clean up some of the language and shoot for a PG-13 rating. I don't think songs like "Hasa Diga Eebowai" will be nearly as hilarious with sanitized lyrics.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at September 14, 2011 11:04 AM

Parker and Stone aren't afraid to take on the MPAA, so I would expect as little watering down as possible. The South Park movie, for instance, was rated R. If anything, I'd be worried about them getting an NC-17 rating (based on their past work as I haven't had the opportunity to see the show), but with, I'm assuming, a major studio backing them and with their now huge names, I doubt that will be an issue.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at September 14, 2011 11:09 AM

I dont know how you get lucky with a Mormon touring show Rob but I'm guessing you dont buy it a drink.

Posted by: logan at September 14, 2011 11:32 AM

I desperately want to see this. Alas, I have not managed to get tickets.
I just want to put in a plug for the soundtrack. It stands up on its own and made me cackle like a crazy person on public transportation!

Posted by: Nimue at September 14, 2011 11:38 AM

I saw it in previews and again once openned and I have to say...the movie will be amazing!

Posted by: Luke at September 14, 2011 11:43 AM

logan, I think you tell them God said you should.

Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at September 14, 2011 11:43 AM

Precisely, Soc. And once they've imbibed a few, logan, I can guarantee you that drunk Mormons are wild-and-crazier than Amish teenagers on a retreat bender.

Posted by: RobP at September 14, 2011 11:59 AM

I do know something about Amish girls and brother when they drop that bonnet they're ready to churn some butter!

Posted by: logan at September 14, 2011 12:02 PM

I know it opens in Denver first next year but no other dates seem to be scheduled. The soundtrack is fantastic, it's definitely worth getting ahead of whenever it comes to a theater of any sort near you.

Posted by: TylerDFC at September 14, 2011 12:26 PM

I think everyone knew it was going to become a movie eventually.

More like, old news, everyone. Akekekeke

I'm priceless.

Posted by: googergieger at September 14, 2011 2:59 PM

TylerDFC, Chicago was confirmed a few days ago: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-09-07/news/ct-ent-0907-book-mormon-chicago-20110906_1_mormon-missionaries-chicago-mission-anne-garefino

There's been on again off again talk of a West End production, as well, though that's up to the whims of the London theater scene.

Posted by: Robert at September 14, 2011 3:39 PM

I hate when someone judging me with no reason ! I don't give a damn

Posted by: discount toywatches shop at October 17, 2011 6:45 AM