Glee's Ryan Murphy to Helm Big Screen Adaptation of The Normal Heart; Eyes the Witches of Wicked

Glee creator Ryan Murphy is on a roll. With the hit TV musical series and film adaptation of Eat Pray Love (which Murphy co-wrote and directed) already under his belt, Murphy recently confirmed to MTV he’ll be taking charge of the big screen adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. Adapted by Kramer, the flick will star stage and screen alum Mark Ruffalo and begins shooting in June 2011.

Kramer’s The Normal Heart chronicles the terrifying early years of the AIDS epidemic in New York and the silence of official America in dealing with it. Originally produced by Public Theater founder Joseph Papp and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the piece debuted off-Broadway on April 21, 1985, starring the late Brad Davis as the hero Ned. The original production played for 294 performances. The Normal Heart was revived at the Public in April 2004, running two months, with Raul Esparza as Ned. The show will enjoy a special benefit reading for charity Friends in Deed at the Walter Kerr Theatre on October 18, 2010, with show alum Joel Grey directing.

Murphy won’t stop at The Normal Heart, either. The director is also reportedly eyeing the film version of novel-turned-megahit-musical Wicked, a possibility that had been hinted at earlier in the summer.

“I love that show; I’ve used the music of that show on Glee,’” he told MTV. “I think that show is about empowerment, which is what Glee and Eat Pray Love are about, so it would be an honor to be asked to [direct the adaptation].”

In addition to creating Glee and adapting Eat Pray Love, Murphy has created, written and directed the hit TV series Nip/Tuck, created the teen serial Popular and adapted Augusten Burroughs' memoir Running With Scissors for the big screen.