Ray Helmer Taylor Hackford to Direct Musical Version of Leap of Faith

Filmmaker Taylor Hackford will direct the long-gestating Leap of Faith stage musical. The show is now eyeing a premiere during the 2007-2008 season.

Last year Hackford received Academy Award nominations for directing and producing the Ray Charles biopic Ray. He previously received an Academy Award in 1979 for Best Short Film Live Action for Teenage Father, which he wrote and directed. Hackford began his entertainment career in public broadcasting, where he pioneered the presentation of uninterrupted rock performances on American television. In addition to creating several award-winning documentaries for the KCET in Los Angeles, he also served as an investigative reporter in their news division, receiving an Associated Press Award, a Peabody and two Emmy awards for his journalism. He made his feature directorial debut in 1980 with The Idolmaker. In addition to Ray, his subsequent films have included An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds, White Nights, Everybody's All-American, Dolores Claiborne, The Devil's Advocate, Proof of Life and the documentary Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock n' Roll.

The Paramount Pictures' film Leap of Faith was released in 1992 and starred Steve Martin, Liam Neeson and Debra Winger. It tells the story of Jonas Nightingale, a rock star in evangelist's clothing, who cons his way across the drought stricken farm belt. A consummate manipulator, Jonas meets his match in a beautiful young widow and her son who compel him to acknowledge forces beyond his control-the power of love, human connection and hope. Through them, Jonas gets one last chance to believe in something. The musical version of the film will feature a book by original screenwriter Janus Cercone, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.