Hustlers became one of the surprise hits of last year, boasting a roaring performance from Jennifer Lopez that deserved more love this awards season. Now the film's director, Lorene Scafaria, says that she's started early work on a stage musical based on it.
Talking to Variety at the Golden Globes, Scafaria says that while it's still at embryonic stage, she's hopeful and that production studio STX is involved. "I said it to them a few months ago that I thought it would be a good idea, that’s all. Who knows," Scafaria says. “I’m trying to develop it for the stage."
Despite the movie's crime drama and regular scenes set in strip clubs, Scafaria says any show would be aimed at a wide audience given the reaction to the screen version. "We had a lot of different kinds of people turning out for Hustlers, it was a wider net than I imagined," she explains. "I think it’s a safe space for people to enjoy something that maybe they wouldn’t enjoy, and maybe they’ll get inspired to go to an actual strip club and support the girls."
And Lopez has also chimed in on the idea, telling Extra last month, "“It really lends itself to a Broadway show, and to a live-performance show," Lopez said. "I don’t know that I would do it. I would produce it, for sure. I don’t know. Maybe. You never know with me."