Richard Linklater's School of Rock, a 2003 film about a wanna-be rocker who recruits some private school kids for a band, is being transformed into a stage production. The Jack Black movie will be adapted into a musical with the help of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater and Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, School of Rock - The Musical will premiere in 2015.
Okay, now let's back up for a minute. Lloyd Webber is one of the most respected composers in the theater world. Slater has written lyrics for Disney's Tangled as well as stage productions of The Little Mermaid and Sister Act. Fellowes, besides his writing duties for Abbey, penned the entire Mary Poppins production. And all three of them are working on an adaptation of a B-list movie that starred Jack Black?
Count me in right now.
"It is a joy for me to return to my Jesus Christ Superstar roots," Lloyd Webber, who will bring some new music to the table in addition to the film's tunes, said. "When Deep Purple's Ian Gillan was recording Jesus for Tim Rice and me at London's Olympic Studios, Led Zeppelin was recording next door and a glimpse of a Stone or two was routine! School of Rock is hugely about how music can empower kids."
This could finally be the redemption for Rock of Ages. Instead of Twisted Sister, AC/DC will reign supreme. I'll raise my goblet of rock to that.
Just as a brief reminder, the School of Rock soundtrack featured tunes by Cream, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones and The Black Keys before The Black Keys were The Black Keys. Rock on.
