17 Movies Inspiring Broadway Dreams

Animal House (1978)

If ever there was an opportunity for toga to meet Tony, it would be the frat-tastic production of the 1978 John Belushi comedy classic, which is set to be developed by Universal Pictures Stage Productions (who previously brought Billy Elliot and Cry-Baby to the theater). Dates have not been announced just yet, but you can imagine it if you try: Just picture Legally Blonde with a little less law school, a little more alcohol and a score by Barenaked Ladies in their composing debut.

Finding Neverland (2004)

Technically, Finding Neverland isn't totally based on a movie. The J.M. Barrie-cum-Peter Pan origin story is, as my colleague Darren Franich puts it, ''a musical based on a play that was made into a movie about a man writing a play.'' Backed by the Weinstein Company and directed by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford (nominated this year for Evita), the musical was dropped from the La Jolla Playhouse's summer season in 2011 but is now reportedly going forward with plans for a British tryout and a move to London's West End before the end of 2012.

The Jungle Book (1967)

With Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame still far off, Disney Theatricals' latest outing will be a musicalized (and, obviously, non-animated) version of The Jungle Book, which will premiere at the Goodman Theater in Chicago sometime in 2013. Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses) is attached to the project, which may or may not feature animal puppets á la The Lion King, although it'd be safe to bet that the materials will be stripped down only to the bare necessities.

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Producers originally intended for the unauthorized horror parody Silence! The Musical to run for just eight weeks off Broadway, but after rave reviews, the show extended five times and is still playing more than seven years after first premiering at the Fringe NYC Festival. The show — deemed by Time Magazine as one of 2011's Top 10 — still stands to make the rare transfer to Broadway while a Los Angeles production is slated for September 2012.

Twilight (2008)

Vampires vamped up off Broadway in Twilight the Musical, a YouTube sensation that beget a one-night-only staged reading in January 2012. The musical was created by Ashley Griffin, who borrowed heavily from Stephenie Meyer's ''masterpiece.'' And by ''masterpiece,'' of course, we mean ''book.'' If you missed the one night stand, don't step into the sunlight just yet: you can watch the whole thing online!

The Bodyguard (1992)

Whitney Houston's most famous onscreen role has long been rumored to receive the musical treatment, and plans for a production finally manifested after Houston's passing with a West End run scheduled for this November. Tony Award winner Heather Headley (Aida) will reprise Houston's role in the tuner, which will include some of the film's signature hits like ''I Will Always Love You'' and ''Run To You.'' Given the film's cult popularity in the States, provided that the show doesn't flop in London, a Broadway transfer is almost inevitable.

American Psycho (2000)

Another Christian Bale cult classic will hit the stage when psychological thriller American Psycho debuts in London as part of the Headlong Theater Company's 2012-2013 season. Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik is penning the music and lyrics alongside bookwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark). Although the show will be based more on the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel than the 2000 movie, I'm still holding out hope for a business card number.

Flashdance (1983)

What a feeling! After a four month London run last year, the 1983 film about a high-kicking steelworker was scheduled to hit Toronto in July but has since been bumped. A national tour is still slated to launch in January in Pittsburgh (the show's setting), but Broadway dates are still a ways off from being announced.

Hands on a Hardbody (1997)

Phish's Trey Anastasio composed the music for this high-concept musical, based on a 1998 documentary about an endurance contest in which whoever can keep one hand on a new truck the longest, wins it. The ambitious narrative plays the La Jolla Playhouse through June 17.

Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)

Tony Danza plays a wealthy Vegas wiseguy in this new musical based on the 1992 film starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker (who, don't worry, won't be in the stage adaptation). After a try-out in Toronto that will no doubt feature several flying Elvises, the show will land in New York in the spring of 2013.

Kinky Boots (2005)

If you ever wanted to hear Cyndi Lauper write the music to a Broadway show, then Kinky Boots could potentially be your only chance. Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray) teams with the '80s pop icon to adapt the 2006 British indie about a drag queen who saves a shoemaker's failing business. The show will open in Chicago over the summer, with an expected Broadway opening next spring.

Rebecca (1940)

Whoever said Hitchcock couldn't use a little song and dance in his movies? Already a hit in Europe, the dramatic musical based on the spooky Daphne du Maurier novel (and subsequent Hitchcock film) will finally land stateside in November after a public battle with fundraising. The show has faced such an uphill battle in landing on Broadway, though, that it may quickly become as ghostlike as its titular character.

Sparkle (2012)

The 2012 film starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston is rumored to be coming to Broadway, thanks largely because of producer Howard Rosenman's promise to adapt Houston's last role into a full-fledged stage production. Nothing is set in stone yet and the movie isn't even out yet, so we'll take this Sparkle with a whole lot of grains of salt.

Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

There's nothing quite like Drew Barrymore with an accent, or Anjelica Huston as an evil stepmother. Sadly, neither actress is linked (yet!) to the stage production of 1998's Ever After, which takes the Cinderella story and tries to play it as a sixteenth century French romance-adventure. Kathleen Marshall takes the reins on the magical production, which is planning a Broadway opening during the 2013-2014 season.

Diner (1982)

Take the artful reminiscing of Follies and add in the testosterone and football bleachers of the short-lived Glory Days and you'll get Diner. Writer-director Barry Levinson is bringing his own 1982 film to the stage with a Kathleen Marshall-helmed musical vignette about a group of high school buddies who reunite for a wedding. Sheryl Crow will write the music for the tuner, which will hit Broadway in the fall of 2012 after an out of town tryout in July.

Bring It On (2000)

Cheerleading has been around on Broadway notably back in the days of Grease and Bye Bye Birdie, but it takes on a new life in Bring It On, the stunt-heavy spectacular based on the 2000 Kirsten Dunst film about class struggles in competitive enthusiasm athletics. The show boasts a stellar creative team that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, Amanda Green, Jeff Whitty, and Andy Blankenbuehler. After a well-received premiere in Los Angeles last October, the touring production will finally land in New York for a limited run this July.

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