David Byrne's hugely successful American Utopia is going from the stage to the silver screen thanks to a new film adaptation helmed by none other than director Spike Lee.
Following a lengthy Broadway run, the critically acclaimed American Utopia will be produced by Participant and RadicalMedia, as well as Byrne's Todomundo, Lee's Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Deadline reports. Byrne will also serve as one of the executive producers for the Lee-directed project.
American Utopia — which documents Byrne's days in Talking Heads all the way up to his 2018 American Utopia album — first started its theatrical run in October 2019 and will be running through February 16. And while so far there is no firm premiere date for Lee's film, it is slated to arrive in 2020.
"Pinch me. This couldn't have worked out better for this project," Byrne said. "Spike Lee directing and Participant producing — two socially engaged teams, well, three if you count us in the band, coming together in what I feel will be something moving, important, and unlike anything anyone has seen before."
Participant CEO David Linde added: "American Utopia is a true celebration from a great artist and a beautiful reminder to our nation that we are all born barefoot and wearing the same suit. We are incredibly excited to work with Mr. Byrne and the incomparable Spike Lee, along with RadicalMedia, River Road and Warner Music Group in bringing this one-of-a-kind event out of the theatre to audiences around the world."
After initially arriving as an album in 2018, American Utopia was taken out on a massive concert tour before starting its Broadway run. It also spawned a cast album.
As previously reported, Byrne is working on his next production, titled Theater of the Mind.
Following a lengthy Broadway run, the critically acclaimed American Utopia will be produced by Participant and RadicalMedia, as well as Byrne's Todomundo, Lee's Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Deadline reports. Byrne will also serve as one of the executive producers for the Lee-directed project.
American Utopia — which documents Byrne's days in Talking Heads all the way up to his 2018 American Utopia album — first started its theatrical run in October 2019 and will be running through February 16. And while so far there is no firm premiere date for Lee's film, it is slated to arrive in 2020.
"Pinch me. This couldn't have worked out better for this project," Byrne said. "Spike Lee directing and Participant producing — two socially engaged teams, well, three if you count us in the band, coming together in what I feel will be something moving, important, and unlike anything anyone has seen before."
Participant CEO David Linde added: "American Utopia is a true celebration from a great artist and a beautiful reminder to our nation that we are all born barefoot and wearing the same suit. We are incredibly excited to work with Mr. Byrne and the incomparable Spike Lee, along with RadicalMedia, River Road and Warner Music Group in bringing this one-of-a-kind event out of the theatre to audiences around the world."
After initially arriving as an album in 2018, American Utopia was taken out on a massive concert tour before starting its Broadway run. It also spawned a cast album.
As previously reported, Byrne is working on his next production, titled Theater of the Mind.
