Joseph musical to be made into animated movie

Sir Elton John‘s Rocket Pictures has acquired the film rights to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice‘s popular stage musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is to be made into an animated feature film.

The musical – based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis – has been running in theatre’s since 1973.

Sir Tim said: “I have always thought Joseph was a strong contender for an animation production. I’m delighted this is now going to happen.”

Originally created for performance in schools, the show has been seen by an estimated 26 million people, earning more than $600m (£368m) at the global box office.

Lord Lloyd-Webber said: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat started in a school and was the first step on the path that led to my musicals with Tim Rice. It is now being performed all over the world by a fourth generation of school kids, and a great movie can only help Joseph being part of the lives of many more.”

Rocket Pictures CEO Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish will produce the film with The Really Useful Group. Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Tim and Sir Elton will executive produce.

Shaw said: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most popular musical experiences ever conceived.

“We are excited about the huge potential of a contemporary animated version, and we’re thrilled to bring this to the big screen in partnership with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.”

Rocket Pictures had produced Gnomeo & Juliet and its sequel, Sherlock Gnomes, which is currently in production; Rocketman, a “musical reinvention” of Sir Elton’s life; and animated family film Will Gallows and the Snake Bellied Troll.