Movie News

Shankman to Direct Bye Bye Birdie

January 6, 2009

Bedtime Stories and Hairspray director Adam Shankman has signed on to develop and produce a long-gestating remake of Bye Bye Birdie at Columbia Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Shankman will join Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, who will produce via their Red Wagon, as producers. Jennifer Gibgot, Shankman's partner in Offspring Entertainment, will executive produce.

A stage favorite for the past half-century, "Birdie" centers on Conrad Birdie, a popular singer whose character is based loosely on Elvis Presley. He's about to be shipped off to the army, but as part of a publicity stunt, he agrees to one last encounter with a fan before he goes to war.

The 1958 musical has had several screen adaptations, including an Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke version in 1963 and a television movie starring Jason Alexander in 1995.

Shankman recently lined up two projects, coming on to direct Bob: The Musical for Disney and Sinbad for Columbia.

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COMMENTS (13)

Posted by:

Zephyr

January 6, 2009

I'm surprised this one has taken so long to get into development. Though I still want to see Into The Woods already.

Posted by:

January 6, 2009

As long as Efron is NOT Conrad.

Posted by:

Mike

January 6, 2009

This will be the second remake of this musical...

IT'S A REMAKE OF A REMAKE!!!!

Posted by:

CplWoods

January 6, 2009

One word.............WHY ?

Posted by:

drasimov

January 6, 2009

Just one more teeny-tiny step away from "Citizen Kane 2: Sled's Revenge..."

Posted by:

TheaterKid

January 6, 2009

Why would they do that? I don't seem to understand. But... Seriously... I'm sure that this'll mean that Efron'll be Birdie, right? I mean... I don't really see what the fascination. Ick.

Posted by:

January 6, 2009

Everything's a remake. It's about name recognition. That's why TV shows keep getting remade. Still waiting for the big-screen Welcome Back Kotter starring Adam Sandler and four guys from TheCW shows.

Posted by:

Robert

January 6, 2009

Forget this, the original with Dick Van Dyke was perfect. I want a movie version of Wicked, Miss Saigon, or Les Miserables (a musical version of Les Mis that is)

Posted by:

cbing736

January 6, 2009

There actually was news of a Welcome Back, Kotter film a couple years back starring Ice Cube (yes, I'm serious). Thankfully, it hasn't yet materialized.

Posted by:

Frank

January 6, 2009

A another remake? They made one in 1995, it was made only on TV starring Jason Alexander.