Confirmed! James Ponsoldt to Write Screenplay for New Pippin Film

This is extraordinary news! Writer and director James Ponsoldt will pen the script for a new big-screen adaptation of Pippin as previously speculated, according to Deadline.com. Produced by the Weinstein Company, no casting, filming or release dates for the new film have been announced.

“James has rightfully become one of the most buzzed about young writer-directors in the business," Harvey Weinstein said in a statement. "After flying to New York to catch a preview of Pippin recently, he met with us and exchanged his ideas on adapting the script for film.”

Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, Pippin opened on April 25 at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre, starring Patina Miller and Matthew James Thomas. The musical earned Broadway.com Audience Choice Award nominations for Favorite Musical Revival and Favorite Actress in a Musical (Patina Miller). The production also received ten 2013 Tony nominations, including Best Musical Revival. Pippin originally opened on Broadway in 1972, starring John Rubinstein as Pippin and Ben Vereen as the Leading Player.

Ponsoldt is the writer and director of Smashed and Off the Black, as well as the director of The Spectacular Now and co-director of We Saw Such Things. His short film writing and directing credits include Coming Down the Mountain and Junebug and Hurricane.