Graham King and Tim Headingtons’ GK Films is mounting a bigscreen adaptation of hit Broadway musical “Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons.”
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, who wrote the book for the musical, will pen the screenplay.
“Jersey Boys is one of the most electrifying stage shows any of us has ever seen and it has all the ingredients to become a big commercial hit movie,” King said. “So to now be collaborating with the whole team–Frankie, Bob, Marshall and Rick–to bring that magic to the big screen is just a wonderful dream come true.”
Valli and Bob Gaudio will exec produce.
Feature film will use much of the same music and lyrics in the stage play, including hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” among others.
“Jersey Boys” tells the legendary story of Vallie and the other members of the Four Seasons– Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi–and their meteoric rise from blue-collar roots to become one of the biggest pop music sensations of all time. All told, they sold 175 million records worldwide before they were 30.
Opening on Broadway in 2005, “Jersey Boys” played its 200th performance last month and is on track to become one of the top performing tuners of all time. Originally directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Dodger Theatricals, the plays’ music is written by Gaudio with lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Musical has won numerous awards, including the Tony for Best Musical in 2006. It won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Musical after it opened London’s West End in 2008.
GK Films’ Julie Roach negotiated with Ken Ziffren and David Lande of Ziffren, Brittenham, ICM’s Jeff Berg and The Four Season’s Peter Bennett to acquire the film rights.
GK Films is currently in theaters with Ben Affleck’s sleeper hit “The Town,” which it produced and Warner Bros. is releasing.
