Universal developing feature film of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT

Green Day's Broadway musical American Idiot is being developed into a feature film by Universal Pictures. Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk), is in talks to write the script, and Michael Mayer will direct. Mayer directed the stage version of the musical, which uses the songs of the punk band's 2004 album to tell "the coming-of-age story of three small-town guys." The show is closing on Broadway on April 24 and launching a tour in the fall. Black recently scripted Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover.

As we reported, Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman optioned the film. This will be the second show that they have turned into a film, the first being Mamma Mia!, which was also turned into a Universal film. Deadline reports that Billie Joe Armstrong will be courted to play the role of the drug dealer St. Jimmy. Whenever Armstrong would play the role in the play, ticket sales would rise considerably. One fact for the show's success has been that the band was actively involved in the formation of the musical.

What are your thoughts on this news? Are you a fan of Green Day?