If Disney wanted to get my attention with a jukebox musical, one way to do it is to based it on the music of Lionel Richie. Variety reports Disney has hired Pete Chiarelli to develop just such a film, All Night Long, which is titled after Richie’s #1 hit single from 1983.
There’ll be much dancing in the streets with chants of “jambo jumbo” if they pull this off. Chiarelli will write the script for All Night Long, which Disney hopes will replicate the success of Mamma Mia!, which used the sounds of ABBA to tell a love story. That film spawned a successful sequel in 2018.
Chiarelli’s past credits show him to know his way around a hit rom-com. He previously co-wrote 2009’s The Proposal, and co-wrote Crazy Rich Asians.
While Lionel Richie may be known best to some as the father of Nicole Richie, his string of hit singles over the decades is impressive. “Say You, Say Me”, “Easy”, “Dancing On the Ceiling” are just a few. There are so many I have no idea how Disney is going to choose which to use.
There’s no official start date and a director has yet to be named, but given the popularity or music dramas I expect that’ll change quickly. For now, let’s indulge in my personal favorite of Richie’s many classics…