Eurovision may be turned into a Broadway musical.
Producer Lia Vollack is creating a new musical based on the Netflix’s 2020 film, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which starred Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. Ferrell will write the book for the musical, alongside his co-writer on the film, Harper Steele, with whom he also stars in the documentary Will & Harper, and with Anthony King, who wrote the book for the Beetlejuice musical.
The show will feature music by Savan Kotecha, who was the executive music producer on the film, and will be directed by Moulin Rouge! and Just In Time director Alex Timbers. The producers did not give a production timeline for the show.
The movie follows aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir as they are given the chance to represent their country in the Eurovision song contest. The film’s original song “Husavik (My Hometown),” written by Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson, was nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 2020.
“We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,” Ferrell said. “The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.”
“Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes,” stated Timbers. “And when I first saw their joyful movie “Eurovision” during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. With this stage adaptation, I can’t wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence, and awe to audiences across the world.”
Ferrell made his Broadway debut in 2009, when he played President George W. Bush in a brief run of a one-man show called You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush.
The Eurovision Song Contest has also signed off on the project.
“This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaption of a film the world loved. Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally – especially as we approach our 70th edition in 2026,” said Martin Green CBE Director, Eurovision Song Contest.
