STAGE TUBE: John Cleese Talks A FISH CALLED WANDA Musical!

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, A Fish Called Wanda is being given musical treatment by original screenwriter John Cleese and his daughter Camilla. Bill Bailey has been recruited to compose.

In an interview with The Hour, Cleese reveals that he has altered the last 20 minutes of the show in the stage version. Of the new plot addition he says: "So we changed the last 20 minutes completely, they now escape in a helicopter from London Zoo so it's been great fun changing it." The project has yet to commit to a director.  Click below to hear Cleese on all things Wanda!

Of the project, the Python alum has previously said: "We've just completed the book for the musical of A Fish Called Wanda and I'm pleased that Camilla hasn't completely stolen all of my dignity in writing so brilliantly. She's left me a few scraps to hang onto to keep me warm at night...Soon, we'll start to work on the songs for the show with Bill Bailey, who, among his many achievements, is an honourary member of the Society of Crematorium Organists. This musical is destined to be a hit amongst funeral directors."

No additional details regarding casting or a creative team have been released.  The project currently has West End aspirations, though Cleese would like it to premiere it un the U.S.

The film A Fish Called Wanda was released in 1988, written by John Cleese and Charles Crichton and directed by Charles Crichton and John Cleese (uncredited), and starring Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin. The film is a comedy about a jewel heist and its aftermath.

For his work in Wanda, Kline won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Cleese and Crichton received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Crichton was also nominated for Best Director, and Curtis received nominations for Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes and BAFTA awards. Michael Palin won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Role.