Multiple reports suggest that South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are set to bring their hit play, The Book of Mormon, to the big screen, and the duo recently announced that they’re launching Important Studios to approve future film, theater and television projects.
Photo by Andre-Pierre via Flickr
“Having worked with several different studios over the years,” Stone and Parker told NYTimes.com, “we came to realize that our favorite people in the world are ourselves.” The Book of Mormon is expected to be Important Studios’ first major project, and if its theater success is any indication, fans will flock to this controversial movie.
The Movie
News of a film adaptation comes as the title remains a popular ticket in the theater world. Performers play several younger characters, but Stone and Parker realize that film requires greater accuracy. “Who’s my dream cast?” Parker pondered at a press conference, “Justin Bieber for Elder Price.” Critics rave over the play’s musical numbers, and the cast recently performed at the Tony Awards Show.
The Musical
After more than 15 years collaborating on South Park, the two remain cult heroes in the comedy world. Fans weren’t surprised that Matt Stone and Trey Parker were taking on a controversial subject matter, but few expected them to take it on in the form of a stage production. The play’s astounding success may be even more surprising. The Book of Mormon took home awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score at the 2011 Tony Awards. After a year-long stint on Broadway, The Book of Mormon went on a U.S. tour before an extended stint in Chicago. The show is now currently playing at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles and at the Ed O’Neill theater in New York City, and fans can purchase tickets through Telecharge.
Stone and Parker are known for their unrestrained satire, but The Book of Mormon isn’t a take-down project. Many Mormons have embraced the show—in fact, the Mormon church advertised in the Playbill Program. Prominent Mormon Mitt Romney also expressed his desire to see the show during his 2012 presidential run. Stone and Parker have their fun with the show, but they’re not out burn any bridges—rather, they’re looking to start a conversation.
Stone and Parker
These two University of Colorado graduates have come a long way since creating the holiday short film titled Jesus vs. Frosty in 1992. The duo has since won five Emmy Awards for their work on South Park. Before The Book of Mormon, Stone and Parker’s most notable outside work was the satirical action comedy, Team America: World Police. Rotten Tomatoes suggested that Team America “Will either offend you or leave you in stitches. It’ll probably do both.”
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