Legendary singer-songwriter Paul McCartney has written some of the world’s most beloved songs and now, he’ll put music to one of the world’s most beloved films. McCartney is working on the score of a musical adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s A Wonderful Life.
The music titan teamed up with British playwright Lee Hall and theater producer Bill Kenwright for the project, which is slated to launch in late 2020. McCartney has cited a long time appreciation for Broadway show tunes dating back to his childhood, but the idea of being involved in a musical was foreign to him.
“Writing a musical is not something that had ever really appealed to me but Bill and I met up with Lee Hall and had a chat and and I found myself thinking this could be interesting and fun,” McCartney said in a statement. “It’s A Wonderful Life is a universal story we can all relate to.”
The 1946 film proves its longevity as a classic of American cinema and is a staple of the holiday season. The famous tale centers around the suicidal George Bailey’s eye-opening journey through his life by a guardian angel on Christmas Eve to discover that his life was worth living. Its message has resonated with millions, including Kenwright, who had reached out to Frank Capra inquiring about getting the rights to the story decades ago. He was initially denied before a twist of fate allowed him to produce the project with only Paul McCartney in mind to write the music.
The former Beatle now joins a slew of fellow recording stars who have brought their songwriting talents to the stage. Cyndi Lauper earned a Tony for composing the Kinky Boots score, while Elton John contributed to Tony-winning productions The Lion King and Aida. Pop star Sara Bareilles achieved Broadway songwriting success with Waitress, which will fold in January after a four-year run.
McCartney split his time writing for It’s A Wonderful Life while finishing up his latest album Egypt Station and going on tour. He just concluded the North American leg of his wildly popular Freshen Up Tour. He headlined various stadiums on the trek, including a final gig at Dodger Stadium last weekend. The 77-year-old rocker reunited with his former bandmate Ringo Starr during the electric set, marking their first time sharing the stage since a special performance at the 2014 Grammys.
While he may not be touring or recording in the near future, fans can relish in the fact that new Paul McCartney music is on the way as part of one of the most timeless stories ever told.