Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Love and Thunder) is set to produce a New York-bound stage musical-comedy about the ill-fated Fyre Festival and its creator Billy McFarland, with “Skyfall” songwriter Paul Epworth composing the score and The Pirates of Somalia director Bryan Buckley writing the book and directing.
Announced today at a launch event on a barge anchored in New York Harbor, Fyre Fest The Musical will also feature a set design by Hamilton designer David Korins. A production timeline or Broadway plans were not disclosed.
“Working in the theater is always fun,” said Waititi in a statement. “I mean I haven’t done it for 15 years because it was no longer fun, but I’ve been told it will be fun this time. And I believe them. When Bryan Buckley told me he wanted to make a musical about the Fyre Festival, I said ‘Who the hell is Bryan Buckley?’ I then remembered we’ve been friends and work mates for 15 years so it was kinda hard to say no. Honestly, I think the idea is exciting, weird, and potentially disastrous, which seems apt and is how I like to work. I can’t wait to get started and snatch me some of that sweet American theatre money.”
Buckley, Oscar-nominated for his short films Asad (2013) and Saria (2019) and once dubbed King of the Super Bowl for his direction of more than 70 Super Bowl commercials, said today, “I never saw myself doing a theatrical musical comedy. But then again, I never saw something completely mind-bendingly ridiculous and intriguing as what went down with Fyre festival. A spectacular failed endeavor—that will haunt a generation forever. I cannot wait to get this show out to the world. And yeah man, this time there will actually be music or your money back.”
Joining both Waititi and Buckley on the producing team will be recording artist and actor Rita Ora, Rock of Ages Broadway producer Matthew Weaver, and global production company Hungry Man Productions.
The synopsis: “It’s not just a Greek-sized tragedy of one man’s con. It’s a satirical indictment of an entire generation. Fyre Fest the Musical. It’s about as wrong as a bad idea can go.”
The Fyre Festival, of course, was the luxury music festival that never was: Organized by McFarland and American rapper Ja Rule, the 2017 Bahamian festival promised ticket-buyers gourmet meals and well-appointed villas only to deliver packaged sandwiches and tents. In March 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud to defraud investors and ticket holders and was later sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit $26 million. He was released from prison in 2022.
In addition to today’s launch event, various guerilla art installations for Fyre will take place in New York City throughout the week.
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