'Mormon' producers: No film in the works

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Matt Stone and Trey Parker say no film version of their hit Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon" is in the works, contrary to reports claiming there is.

"Mormon" was the first stage musical for Stone and Parker, the creators of the edgy animated comedy series "South Park." "Mormon" won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in June.

Featuring extensive profanity and scatological humor, "Mormon" tells the story of how two missionaries try to convert Ugandan villagers facing poverty and strife unlike anything the naive visitors could imagine. While one of the young men is overwhelmed, the second attempts to teach the villagers about God in a way to which they can relate, inspiring them to hope for better lives.

"We did a stage show and it worked out way better than we ever thought, and we'd like it to be that for a while, you know, without contaminating it with a movie," Parker told The Hollywood Reporter when asked to address reports saying a film version is on its way.

Parker told the entertainment industry trade newspaper the story about a film adaptation started circulating after a reporter asked him and Stone if they would ever consider bringing the musical to the big screen.

"We said, 'Yeah, I think we could do a 'Book of Mormon' movie,' and they were like, 'Book of Mormon Movie!' It's coming!'" Parker said.