AMERICAN IDIOT, the 2004 album by American rock band Green Day, has been given the go-ahead to be adapted into a feature-length movie. AMERICAN IDIOT, the Broadway musical, has been hugely successful and Universal studios have officially hired Tom Hanks to produce a big screen version, reports Reuters.
It was previously reported that the band and their label were in negotiations about a possible movie adaptation following the popularity of the Broadway musical, adapted by Michael Mayer. The show was nominated for three Tony Awards and speculation suggests that Mayer could get behind the camera to direct the movie. It is expected that 'Milk' writer Dustin Lance Black will pen the screenplay, while ACADEMY AWARD winning actor Tom Hanks has been given the job of producing the movie. The actor's previous producing credits include 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Mamma Mia' and 'Driving Aphrodite'. The stage version of 'American Idiot' has featured cameos from Melissa Etheridge, AFI's DAVEY HAVOK and Green Day's frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.
'American Idiot' the album reached number one in nineteen different countries upon its release in 2004. It has since sold over 14 million copies worldwide and 6 million in the U.S. alone.