Thriller night on Broadway: theatre mogul to adapt iconic video for stage

The iconic music video for Michael Jackson's hit song Thriller will be the inspiration for a new Broadway musical, producer James L. Nederlander announced Monday.

Nederlander, head of the New York firm that owns nine Broadway theatres, has acquired the rights to create a stage musical based on the landmark John Landis-directed video.

The musical will include songs from Jackson's albums Thriller and Off the Wall.

"I love the idea of making Thriller a musical. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy has big secret, now what?" said Nederlander.

Though there were no details released about cast or creative staff, including who would direct, choreograph or write the book for the musical, producers said that Jackson would participate in the show's creative process.

"The Nederlanders and Michael Jackson represent live theatre and musical excellence, so let the music begin," Jackson spokesman Tohme Tohme said in a statement.

Landis' video, which debuted in 1983, is among the most memorable music videos of all time and, according to the filmmaker in 2008, cost $500,000 US to produce at the time (about 10 times the cost of a typical video).

Akin to a short film, the video starred a young Jackson as a teenager on a date that goes wrong when the couple encounters zombies. It featured Hollywood horror legend Vincent Price and its extended zombie dance sequence — led by Jackson — continues to inspire dancers even today.

However, the 50-year-old Jackson himself has not fared as well. He has been struggling to stage a musical comeback and been plagued with a host of legal battles and financial problems since his acquittal from child molestation charges in 2005.