Musical Adaptation of New British Comedy Pride Eyes West End Bow with Tony Winner Matthew Warchus at the Helm

At a London screening of the new British comedy Pride, screenwriter Stephen Beresford revealed that a stage musical adaptation of the film is in the works, with its eyes on the West End. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Beresford announced during the September 14 event that Tony and Olivier-winning director Matthew Warchus has been tapped to helm the new project. No official announcement has been made.

Beresford revealed the Matilda director boarded the project after the pair had shared a train ride: “[Warchus] came up with nine reasons why we shouldn’t do it...but by the end of the journey we had turned them into reasons why we should.”

Based on a true story, Pride follows a group of gay rights activists who, despite initial outcry, raised money to help families involved in the 1984 U.K. miners’ strike. The cast includes stage and screen stars Billy Nighy, Olivier winner Imelda Staunton and Dominic West, as well as Paddy Considine, George MacKay and Andrew Scott. The film, which opened in the U.K. on September 12, is slated for a September 26 release in the states.