'Heathers' being developed as a musical

LOS ANGELES, March 12 (UPI) -- The 1988 dark comedy film "Heathers" is being retooled as a stage musical, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The movie about a popular teen in love with a bad boy, who murders some of the most popular kids in school and makes their deaths look like suicides, starred Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty.

The stage version of the story is being developed by "Race to Witch Mountain" and "Reefer Madness" director Andy Fickman, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.

Fickman's "Reefer" collaborator is writing the "Heathers" lyrics and book, while composer Larry O'Keefe, whose past credits include the Broadway adaptation of "Legally Blonde," is working on the music.

Denise Di Novi, who produced the movie "Heathers," is executive producing the musical, The Hollywood Reporter said, adding the creative team behind the stage show hopes to have a regional production ready for 2010 before possibly heading to Broadway.