A television series inspired by the classic Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” will be developed by Skydance Television, the production company announced Tuesday.
The series will be set in the present in America’s heartland and include music by the legendary composing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II “reimagined for a contemporary audience, in addition to new music to support the story,” according to Skydance Television.
The network the series will air on has not been determined, said Dawn Lach, the vice president, public relations of Skydance Media, the parent company of Skydance Television.
“We’re still developing the series and will then shop it to the cable/streaming services,” Lach told City News Service.
The series will be written by John Lee Hancock and Bekah Brunstetter. Hancock will also direct the first episode and serve as an executive producer, along with Brunstetter.
Hancock wrote the screenplay and directed the 2009 football drama “The Blind Side” and directed the 2013 film about the making of “Mary Poppins,” “Saving Mr. Banks.” Brunstetter has been a producer of the acclaimed NBC family drama “This Is Us” throughout its three seasons.
This is the first time a Rodgers & Hammerstein title will be developed for a television series.
“Oklahoma!’s artistically revolutionary position in American culture has both kept it at the forefront of theatrical performances and allowed for various new innovations,” said Ted Chapin, chief creative officer of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
“This first-time ever television series will expand on the life of this remarkably resilient show.”
“Oklahoma!” was the first musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943, and ran through 1948.
Skydance Television produces the Netlfix comedy “Grace and Frankie” and the Prime Video action political thriller “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.”