CONFIRMED: James Ponsoldt to Pen PIPPIN Film Adaptation

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that James Ponsoldt has officially signed on to write the big screen adaptation of the beloved musical Pippin. Polsoldt's most recent credits include directing 2013 Sundance Film Festival hit THE SPECTACULAR NOW and writing and directing AaRon Paul-starrer SMASHED. TWC has owned the film rights for nearly ten years to the production, which Dylan Sellers and Julie Oh will oversee for the company. Pippin originally opened on Broadway in 1972 and was directed by Bob Fosse with music by Steven Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson. It was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 1973, including Best Musical.

Commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein: "James has rightfully become one of the most buzzed about young writer-directors in the business. After flying to New York to catch a preview of Pippin recently, he met with us and exchanged his ideas on adapting the script for film. SMASHED and THE SPECTACULAR NOW showed his talent for telling stories of self-discovery, and we're confident he will have the same success rewriting this story."

After a recent successful run at Boston's American Repertory Theatre, the first Broadway revival of Pippin is currently playing on Broadway and was recently nominated for 10 Tony Awards.

Ponsoldt is represented by Andrew Cannava at UTA.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus