American Idiot, the Broadway musical based on Green Day’s acclaimed album of the same name, is finding a home at Universal.
The studio is in negotiations to pick up the screen rights and has set Michael Mayer, the director of the stage production, to helm the big-screen adaptation.
Dustin Lance Black, who wrote Milk, is in discussion to write the screenplay.
Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, who optioned the rights before Idiot began its Broadway run, will produce via their Playtone banner along with the band, Pat Magnarella and Tom Hulce.
A concept album tackling the ideas of love vs. rage, American Idiot follows three characters: the aimless Jesus of Suburbia, punk rock freedom fighter St. Jimmy and Whatsername.
Hanks and Goetzman were producers on the mega-smash Mamma Mia! the adaptation of the musical based on the ABBA songs. Universal was behind that musical, which got it on the hunt for other musical projects. Not all of them are created equal, however, and the studio recently put In the Heights into turnaround after it was deemed too pricey.
Green Day, Mayer and Black are repped by CAA.
