Groundhog Day to become musical

Tim Minchin is working on a musical adaptation of the film Groundhog Day.

Danny Rubin, who wrote the film script, and Matilda director Matthew Warchus, will also be on board.

Tim Minchin, who revealed the news on his blog, said: “Our version of Groundhog Day is going to be both instantly recognizable, and utterly different.”

The 1993 film, starring Bill Murray, is considered to be a comedy classic.

The movie tells the story of a grumpy weatherman who is sent to a small town to do a weather report and gets stuck in a time loop, having to live the same day over and over again until he learns how to be a better person.

Tim Minchin wrote: “The central conceit is perfectly suited to the theatre… it has the potential to be complex, dark, visually fascinating, and thematically rich, whilst still being a joyous romantic comedy with cool tunes and lots of gags.

“It’s certainly not an easy job, and I’m truly honored – and genuinely excited – that Danny is letting me have a crack at it.”

He added that Stephen Sondheim had considered adapting Groundhog Day for the stage a few years ago but “it got put on the back burner, and he is now happy that we’re making a go of it. We have Steve’s blessing – and it’s a blessing I value enormously.”

Tim Minchin added that he hoped Groundhog Day would be on the stage in a couple of years but did not reveal where.