Gossip

Andrew Lloyd Webber enrols in School of Rock musical?

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed that his next project after Stephen Ward, the musical about the Profumo affair, will be a version of the film School of Rock starring Jack Black. Talking to CBC radio, Lloyd Webber said that he had got the rights for the show, and was “very excited” about the project.

The film, which was released in 2003, follows rock singer Dewey Finn who gets thrown out of his band and then disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prestigious school.

Acknowledging the difference between the two projects, Lloyd Webber said: “I’ll go from Stephen Ward, which is going to be really a chamber musical to doing a musical with kids playing the guitar.”

The film features songs from bands including AC/DC, The Clash, Deep Purple and Metallica, and Lloyd Webber said that there also “may be some songs from me” in the show. So, who could take on the Jack Black role on stage? James Corden perhaps? We think he’d be perfect casting.

The composer released the theme song from Stephen Ward on a recent ITV special celebrating his 40 years in musicals, and director Richard Eyre is signed up to work on the production.