Green Day's 'American Idiot' on Broadway Next Tom Hanks Film?

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Green Days 'American Idiot' on Broadway may become Tom Hanks Film

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Tom Hanks’ production company, Playtone, is rumoured to be interested in making a film adaption of Green Day’s upcoming American Idiot Broadway musical.

The rock opera, based on the band's 2004 Grammy-winning album of the same name, makes its Broadway debut on April 20 at the St. James Theatre.

It premiered in Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California last September and sneak previews caught the attention of the film and TV company.

Director Michael Mayer suggested that something is in the works, noting that he is friends with Hanks, but that they want the musical to complete its run before any potential filming begins.

Playtone has been behind Where the Wild Things Are, Mamma Mia, My Life in Ruins, Charlie Wilson's War, Polar Express and HBO’s Band of Brothers miniseries. My Big Fat Greek Wedding notoriously came to Hank's attention when his wife Rita Wilson attended a performance and told him he had to film it.

American Idiot Hits Broadway Next Month

The stage adaptation uses all 13 songs from the 57-minute long American Idiot—starting with the title track—plus selections from 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown, which won a Grammy for Best Rock Album. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) was added as a curtain call song.

The set is covered with graffiti and punk rock posters with flickering TVs stuck on 24-hour news networks behind a cast adorned with tattoos, skate shoes and rock t-shirts. The plot follows 3 teenagers—Johnny, Will and Tunny—who are oversaturated by TV and bored with living in suburbia.

Will accidentally impregnates his girlfriend and goes through the trial of unexpected fatherhood. Tunny goes to war and gets wounded, but survives. While in his hospital bed, he has hallucinations of an “Extraordinary Girl” who he meets in reality and returns to America with her.

Johnny, the main character, has issues with his stepfather and wanders the urban city. He meets a drug dealer and gets hooked on heroin, but gives it up for a girl named “Whatsername.” Toward the end of the musical, they get into a heated argument and she leaves him.

Tickets range from $32 to $227.

American Idiot Album Still Relevant

The American Idiot album sold 267,000 copies in its opening week and 14 million to date worldwide. It was recorded in response to George W. Bush’s presidency and the war in Iraq, but the band feels the album still resonates with America's health care reform battle and Barack Obama struggle to overcome right wing attitudes.

Though the musical opens next month, Green Day will be touring Europe in May and playing concerts throughout the summer in the United States.

In June, the Green Day: Rock Band video game will be released, featuring 47 tracks from the band's 23-year career, with additional downloadable content.