Hem's Dan Messe Adapting AMELIE Film For Broadway!

Composer and lyricist Dan Messé of Hem revealed on the band's Facebook page on August 13 that he is currently working on the Broadway adaptation of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 film AMÉLIE.

He wrote: "So not the best kept secret, but still I'm happy to announce that I've been commissioned to adapt the film "Amélie" for Broadway. The creative team includes Craig Lucas (book) and Nathan Tysen (co-lyrics). Can't wait to share it with you!"

Paste also recently spoke with Messé about his work on the musical. "It definitely sounds like me," Messé said during the interview. "One of the big challenges for me is that there is already iconic music associated with this piece. The Yann Tiersen score is amazing...He's a very different sort of composer than I am. And I'm not interested in doing Parisian music. I don't think I'm even going to use accordion in my score."

Messé is working with playwright Craig Lucas and lyricist Nathan Tysen, and has also approached Amélie film director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who supposedly "hates musicals." But after Messé shared some of the songs he has currently in development, he said they sparked Jeunet's interest.

Messé was approached with the project just after he completed work on the Public Theater's 2009 production of Twelfth Night for Shakespeare in the Park. Now Amélie's first big deadline is coming up with the first draft is due on Labor Day.

Amélie follows an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, who decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love. The 2001 film starred French actress Audrey Tautou as Amélie. Amélie won Best Film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

Hem (along with Messé) will be touring on the West Coast in September, followed by a stint in Europe in October.