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'Bat Boy' swooping into cinemas
The West End's strangest musical will soon be hitting the big screen, with John Landis in the director's chair.
Nov 18 2004
The West End hit 'Bat Boy The Musical' could soon be gliding into cinemas, with cult king John Landis at the helm.
On a recent trip to the UK Landis attended three 'Bat Boy' performances, and was so impressed with the show that he immediately agreed to develop and direct a movie based on the musical.
A cult hit on Broadway even before it transferred to London's Shaftesbury Theatre, 'Bat Boy' tells the tale of a half boy/half bat discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia, and follows the lad's struggle to find his pointy-eared place in the world.
Brian Flemming, who co-wrote the musical and will be working on the movie's script, told Time Out that little will change when the story makes its transition to celluloid. 'We'll largely be sticking to the plot, musical numbers and scenes that are in the play, with some elements trimmed and others expanded,' he explained. 'But it will substantially be 'Bat Boy: The Musical', not a move in a new direction.'
Flemming says he couldn't be happier that Landis, the man behind such cult classics as 'An American Werewolf in London', and 'The Blues Brothers', will be handling his bat baby. 'I'm thrilled with John Landis' involvement. He has great ideas for turning 'Bat Boy' into a movie, and heβs fun to hang out with to boot.
'I think John is one of the few directors alive who can handle this material with the audacity it requires,' he continued. 'Bat Boy is a musical, a comedy, a tragedy, a horror show and a few other things β I think the story of Christ is in there somewhere β and it will take a director with John's experience and skill to pull that off in a movie.'
Michael Alden, who is producing both the show and the movie, hopes to get the project off the ground within the next 12 months, and says that if possible he would love to make the movie somewhere in London.
To see what all the fuss is about, more details can be found at: www.batboy.co.uk And as for casting, there's no news yet regarding who will play the titular Boy Bat, but we're pulling for either 'Donnie Darko' himself Jake Gyllenhaal, or that woman who played Jimmy Krankie.
User comments on this story
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- Kyle said...
- It's a shame that the movie was cancelled in 2006. I was looking forward to seeing it Posted on Feb 24 2008 04:43
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- Cindy said...
- I just heard tonight at a performance of Bat Boy which they are running at the college I attend that John Landis is directing a film version of this musica.. Personally I love the idea. I'm not in the cast, but I am a technician for our production. I am in charge of props and blood.I am anixios to see what John comes up with for this. I am a big fan of his films. His best being in my opinion, An American Werewolf in London. I will definitely be in line to buy my ticket for this1!!!!!!! Posted on Jan 27 2008 09:25
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- Meghan said...
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A Bat Boy movie will be amazing, i love it. It will be in the US tho, right? Hey Eric and Kimi!!! longlakeloveeee
- bat boy wannabe Posted on Jun 02 2007 04:02 - Report as inappropriate
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- Stacey Allen said...
- I am currently directing BATBOY at Clairemont High Schoo in San Diego... we love it great show awesome music But its so damm high the kids had a rough time getting it down... DPS should look into transposing it down, they'd be able to get more interest.... we open tonight FEB 14, 2007 Posted on Feb 14 2007 21:33
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- Martin Carlton said...
- I Am playing bat boy "edgar" in a production of the musical soon, and i am really looking forward to it. There is only one person who can play bat boy and that is Deven May and you should deffinetly consider casting Kerry Butler as Shelly, I just think you should the original broadway cast on the big screen. Bat Boy Rocks!!!! Posted on Feb 07 2007 23:59
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- eric said...
- i was also in bat boy with kimi! i played rick and i cant wait to see this movie. i love the show so much. Posted on Sep 03 2006 03:20
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- Kimi said...
- I was reverend hightower in bat boy!!! when we did it at long lake camp for arts in new york it was amazing i cant wait to see it brought to the big screen : ] Posted on Aug 27 2006 23:54
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- paige said...
- I love Batboy. My friends and I saw it at a local theatre last summer. I was wondering if the movie will also be out in the U.S. Posted on Jun 29 2006 21:59
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