Happy Feet to be developed into a stage musical directed by Michael Arden

Happy Feet will be developed for the stage, with its sights set on Broadway.

The beloved 2006 animated film follows Mumble, a young penguin whose extraordinary dancing sets him apart in a world that measures worth by song. The Academy Award-winning Warner Bros picture is directed by George Miller, and a sequel followed in 2011.

Mumble was voiced by Elijah Wood, with a voice cast also including Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and more.

A Broadway creative team is attached to the development, including Tony Award-winning producer Dori Berinstein, two-time Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden, book writer Douglas Lyons and choreographers Ayodele Casel, Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher “Cree” Grant.

The design team for the musical includes Tony Award-winning set designer Dane Laffrey, Tony Award-winning costume designer Susan Hilferty, Tony Award-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, puppet designer Basil Twist, orchestrator/ co-arranger Kenny Seymour and music supervisor/co-arranger Jackson Teeley.

Happy Feet will be a jukebox musical, featuring the hit songs from the motion picture, alongside familiar chart-topping favourites.

Dates for future productions and further details will be announced soon.

The musical is being produced by special arrangement with Warner Bros Theatre Ventures, whose upcoming projects include adaptations of Crazy Rich Asians, Practical Magic, and the current Broadway productions of The Lost Boys and Dog Day Afternoon. Mark Kaufman, executive vice president and chief content officer of Warner Bros Theatre Ventures, will serve as creative consultant, and George Miller serves as consulting producer. General management of Happy Feet is by Wagner Johnson Productions.