GK Films Picks up Feature Film Rights to Hit Broadway Musical JERSEY BOYS

Producer Graham King’s GK Films (The Town) has picked up the feature film rights to the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys.  The musical tells the true story of 1960s rock-n-roll sensation The Four Seasons.  Deadline reports that the deal was “groundbreaking” and “in the substantial seven-figures”.  Book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice will write the script while King and GK Films partner Tim Headington will produce.  The film will use the music and lyrics of the group’s hits songs which include “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Rag Doll”, “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.

Jersey Boys picked up four Tony awards (including Best Musical) and has sold over a $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide.  Although the musical debuted in 2005, the screen rights were only made available six weeks ago.  Jersey Boys now joins other high-profile movie musicals in production like Green Day’s American Idiot over at Playtone, and Universal is developing adaptations of Wicked and In the Heights.