'10 Things I Hate About You' Director Weighs in on Broadway Musical Adaptation: 'Don't Hurt My Baby' (Exclusive)
Gil Junger, director of 10 Things I Hate About You, is weighing in on the upcoming Broadway musical, 25 years after the release of the 1999 original
While not involved in the production, Junger says he's "so excited to see what" Lena Dunham, who is cowriting the book, "does with this"
The musical will also feature a score co-written by pop star Carly Rae JepsenThe director of 10 Things I Hate About You is weighing in on the recently announced Broadway musical adaptation.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, Gil Junger says he's "so excited" for the upcoming production based on his hit 1999 teen rom-com of the same name, despite not being directly involved in it.
"It's funny because years ago, I was offered [the opportunity to direct a stage production]," says Junger, 70. "That was brought up to me a couple of times over the last 15 years. And I always said, 'Look, if you get your financing together, I'm down.' And they never got back to me."
That being said, the show — which will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, from a book co-written by Lena Dunham and a score co-written by Carly Rae Jepsen— is something Junger still looks forward to taking in as a viewer.
"I'm so excited to see what Lena does with this," he says of Dunham, 38. "She's just so incredibly talented. She has that voice."
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10 Things I Hate About You follows teen Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), a high-achieving, sharp-tongued loner who is constantly compared to her perky, popular younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) by their overprotective single dad, Walter (Larry Miller). But Kat's world is soon turned upside down by Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), an edgy new student who challenges her cynical views.
PEOPLE confirmed the in-development 10 Things I Hate About You Broadway musical on April 23. Jepsen, 39, is partnering with Ethan Gruska on the score, while Dunham has been tapped to co-write the book with playwright Jessica Huang, according to Billboard. Two-time Tony winner Tom Kitt will serve as music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator, with Mike Bosner producing.
Junger admits to PEOPLE that "there's a little bit of 'Don't hurt my baby' " in terms of his feelings about the upcoming show, as he doesn't "want it to hurt the essence" or "legend" of the movie.
"I did put a little curse on the guy," he jokes of Wheeldon, 52, who's known for productions like An American in Paris and MJ: The Musical. "No, I wish them great luck with it."
And considering the creative team including Dunham and Jepsen, "It's in such good hands," the filmmaker adds. "I'm just excited to see it."
Junger isn't out of the 10 Things game completely, though. In fact, he is developing a follow-up film that he is planning to direct, and he is currently writing the screenplay with Naya Elle James.
Titled 10 Things I Hate About Dating, the movie will be the first of a planned trilogy, according to Junger, followed by 10 Things I Hate About Marriage and 10 Things I Hate About Kids.
Similarly to how the original film was a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's 16th-century comedy The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About Dating will be inspired by Molière's 1666 play The Misanthrope, Junger tells PEOPLE.
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And although it's unclear at this moment how much of the original film will play a part in the new story, the director would love to see some familiar faces in the next iteration, which will be aimed at an audience in the 30 age range as opposed to the first movie's teen target.
Asked whether there might be a nod to Ledger, who died in 2008 at age 28, in 10 Things I Hate About Dating, Junger says, "I think that's a beautiful idea, and the answer is now going to be yes. ... He deserves to be loved."
An opening date for 10 Things I Hate About You on Broadway has not yet been announced.
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