Producer Lia Vollack has announced the development of a new musical based on the Netflix movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” The musical will adapt the 2020 comedy, written by Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, and is aiming for Broadway.
The stage adaptation will feature a book by Ferrell, Steele and Tony Award nominated book writer Anthony King, along with music by Savan Kotecha. Tony Award winner Alex Timbers will direct.
The Eurovision Song Contest is an international music competition, run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each year, countries that are members of the EBU select a song to represent their nation through their own local contest. Then, there are two semi-final competitions, each of which yield 10 finalist tunes. Those 20 finalists plus the songs of the host country and the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom — which are guaranteed participation) face off in the Eurovision finals. The winner is chosen by a jury vote of the participating countries combined with a public vote. Having just completed its 69th year, the Eurovision Song Contest has yielded winners like ABBA and Celine Dion.
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is a loving parody of the contest, which stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a duo whose dream is winning Eurovision. They don’t even become their country’s national selection; but a freak accident leads them to the finals to represent Iceland. The song “Husavik (My Hometown),” written by Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2020.
“We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,” Ferrell said in a statement. “The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.”
Timbers expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the emotional impact the original film had on him. “Will Ferrell and Harper Steele are my comedy heroes,” stated Timbers. “And when I first saw their joyful movie ‘Eurovision’ during the pandemic, it buoyed spirits during a very dark time. With this stage adaptation, I can’t wait to bring that same mix of heart, spectacle, irreverence and awe to audiences across the world.”
The project has also garnered support from Eurovision Song Contest organizers. Martin Green CBE, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, praised the team behind the Broadway adaptation, noting its alignment with the competition’s mission to celebrate inclusivity and diversity. “This is a stellar team for what I am sure will be an equally stellar adaptation of a film the world loved,” Green said. “Our aim always is to bring the joy of the Eurovision Song Contest to more people globally — especially as we approach our 70th edition in 2026.”
Dates and a theater for “Eurovision Song Contest” will be announced at a later date.
