Andy Fickman developing ‘Heathers’ Musical

Remember ‘Heathers’…? Of course you do! The 1988 dark comedy about teens is a popular cult favorite and launched the careers of Wynona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. Well, are you ready for Heathers: The Musical? No, I didn’t stutter. It’s true, but it gets even worse. Andy Fickman, you know… the auteur director responsible for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s masterpiece Disney films including ‘The Game Plan’ and ‘Race to Witch Mountain’… yeah, so he’s developing a musical stage adaptation of ‘Heathers’. Yipee!

The trio has worked on the production under the radar for some time, even doing readings this week in Endeavor’s screening room. The readings saw “Veronica Mars” star Kristen Bell playing the lead and Christian Campbell as J.D., with Jenna Leigh Green (“Wicked”), BrokeDown Cadillac lead singer Corri English and Christine Lakin (the CW’s “Valentine”) as the three Heathers. — HR

Fickman isn’t entirely foreign to the musical genre, having directed ‘Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical’ in 2005 with partner Kevin Murphy, with whom he is working with on ‘Heathers’. Fickman claims the original movie offers many “over the top” moments that would give the musical a similar appeal to John Waters’ ‘Hairspray’. Unfortunately, Fickman failed to consider one crucial element… Waters knows how to make an entertaining movie!

[source: Hollywood Reporter]