Mars Attacks Becoming A Broadway Musical
If you're in the front row, you might want to wear a poncho.
This article is more than 2 years old
UPDATE! Looks like this isn’t happening after all. IDW claims this was an “early” April Fools prank. You know what another word for an early April Fools prank is? A lie. If it doesn’t happen on April 1 it’s not an April Fools prank it’s just a straight up lie to get unwarranted publicity. Shame on you IDW.
Original story, based on their false press release, follows…
In 1996 director Tim Burton released what is probably one of the most ridiculous science fiction movies of all time. Called Mars Attacks! it featured an all-star cast embroiled in one of the most simultaneously violent/funny/gruesome/stupid/horrifying alien invasion plots of all time. And now it’ll be a musical.
As outlined in a joint statement released by Topps trading cards and IDW Publishing, comic veteran John Layman is working on a musical version of the Mars Attacks! world. It won’t necessarily mirror the movie, actually it’s based on a series popular trading cards from the 50s, from which the 90s feature film took its inspiration.
Here’s how Layman explains what he’s up to…
My approach to MARS ATTACKS on stage is sort of a science fiction version of West Side Story: a human and a Martian involved in a star-crossed romance, set against the backdrop of a violent interstellar war—with all of humanity caught in between! It’s going to be a rollicking good time, with songs that will make you want to get up and dance!
It was music, one country song in particular (Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call”), which defeated the aliens in the Tim Burton movie in the first place. If they stick with that plot device, it should be good be fun watching Martian heads explode (literally) whenever the cast breaks into song. If you’re in the front row, you might want to wear a poncho.
Here’s the alien-destroying song in question, just in case a band of martians shows up on your doorstep to let you know they come in peace. It can’t hurt to be armed…
