Universal Beats Out Disney for Musical Comedy Featuring Josh Gad & Music by Menken & Schwartz

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Studios has beat out Paramount and Disney for the previously reported untitled musical comedy starring Josh Gad and featuring original songs by the award-winning composer lyricist team of Alan Menken (ALADDIN) and Stephen Schwartz. (PIPPIN) Jeremy Garelick will write the screenplay and helm the project.

Michael De Luca is set to produce, along with Gad, Garelick, Menken and Schwartz. Kristin Lowe will oversee the project for Universal. The project will join other successful musical movies from Universal including Les Miserables and Pitch Perfect. No further details on the project were revealed.

Gad is currently starring opposite Billy Crystal in FX's THE COMEDIANS, premiering tonight. The actor, well known as the voice of 'Olaf' in Disney's mega-hit musical movie FROZEN, will soon appear as 'Le Fou' in the company's new, live-action adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Among his other upcoming projects are PIXELS and ANGRY BIRDS. His recent big screen credits include THE WEDDING RINGER, THE INTERNSHIP and JOBS, as well as the TV series 1600 PENN. Gad made his Broadway debut in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE and moved on to THE BOOK OF MORMON, for which he received a Tony nomination in 2011.

Menken and Schwartz both won an Oscar for their work on Disney's POCAHONTAS, and Menken has received a total of eight Academy Awards for films such as ALADDIN, THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Among his other film credits are THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, HERCULES, ENCHANTED and TANGLED. The composer's Broadway credits include ALADDIN, LEAP OF FAITH, NEWSIES (which earned him a Tony in 2012), SISTER ACT, THE LITTLE MERMAID, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, KING DAVID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz's best known musicals are WICKED, PIPPIN and GODSPELL. He also penned the music and lyrics for THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, FOSSE, WORKING, THE MAGIC SHOW and more.

Garelick has scripted THE BREAK-UP, THE WEDDING RINGER and the TV movie THE OUTLAWS, as well as the TV series THE REBELS. He also wrote and directed the upcoming project SICK DAY.

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