Bret McKenzie Writing Bob: The Musical’s Songs

It was reported today from multiple sources that popular actor/singer/songwriter Bret McKenzie will join author Michael Chabon in the upcoming production from Walt Disney Studios.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Disney’s upcoming comedy will not feature music from Tony-winning FROZEN composer/lyricist team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, as previously announced.

He wrote “Wonder Boys”, “Telegraph Avenue” and “The Yiddish Policeman’s Union” and won a Pulitzer Prize for the novel “The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”. McKenzie won the Oscar for writing the song “Man or Muppet”. Michel Hazanavicius, who helmed the Oscar-winning 2011 film “The Artist“, is now on board to direct, with Tom Cruise reportedly eyeing the lead role.

Bob the Musical tells the story of a regular guy (named, uh, Bob) who, after getting hit in the head, can suddenly hear the inner songs sung by the hearts of all of his family and friends. Over the years, scribes including Mike Bender (Not Another Teen Movie), John August (Frankeneenie), Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (City Slickers), Allan Loeb (Rock of Ages) and Matt Fogel (Prince Charming, a spec acquired by Disney) have worked on drafts.

Cruise last appeared in EDGE OF TOMORROW and will soon be seen in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION, TOP GUN 2, JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK and MENA.