Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ Musical to Be Turned Into an HBO Movie
A film adaptation of the stage version of Green Day’s 2004 concept album American Idiot is in the early stages. In a new interview, singer Billie Joe Armstrong said that HBO has the rights, and that, as he sometimes did on Broadway, he will perform in the role of St. Jimmy, a drug dealer.
"We’ve got a green light from HBO,” he told NME, “and the script is currently going through a couple of rewrites here and there, so I’m not sure when exactly we’re going to start shooting, but it’s definitely all systems go at the moment." The article adds that Tom Hanks’ Playtone Productions had secured the screen rights five years ago, with playwright Rolin Jones working on the screenplay.
American Idiot opened on Broadway in 2010 and closed a year later after 422 performances. The plot centered around three friends — Johnny, Will and Tunny — who escape the suburbs, each in their own way. Armstrong wrote the book along with director Michael mayer. It was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, but only won for the other two for which it was nominated, Best Scenic Design for a Musical and Best Lighting Design for a Musical. Its original cast recording won the Grammy for Best Musical Show album.
For Armstrong, it will be another opportunity to act in a movie. Next Friday (Oct. 14), his feature film debut, Ordinary World, will be released on DVD and digital download. Armstrong stars as a punk-rocker-turned-suburban-dad celebrating his 40th birthday by throwing a bash in a fancy New York City hotel. Green Day will put out their 12th album, Revolution Radio, another collection of topical songs, tomorrow.
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