Paul McCartney has written his first musical, a stage version of Frank Capra’s 1946 film, It’s A Wonderful Life. It is set to open at some point in 2020. McCartney is set to compose the music for the musical and take a hand to the lyrics. The show’s book, and additional lyrics will be written by Lee Hall, the author of Billy Elliot. He was also responsible for the screenplay of Elton John’s 2018 biopic, Rocketman.

The rights to It’s A Wonderful Life were gained by Bill Kenwright, a British theatre producer with credits that include Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It has been three years since McCartney was approached by Kenwright about the idea for a musical.

“Like many of these things this all started with an email,” said Paul. “Writing a musical is not something that had ever really appealed to me but Bill and I met up with Lee Hall and had a chat and I found myself thinking this could be interesting and fun.”

In receiving ideas from Paul for the musical, Bill said that the demos he received, “exceeded expectations”.

The film, voted as Britain’s favourite Christmas film in polls by Odeon Cinemas and Radio Times, was described by the former Beatles singer as being, “a universal story we can all relate to”.

Lee Hall has acclaimed It’s A Wonderful Life as his favourite film, saying, “It has absolutely everything: comedy, pathos and a rare humanity which has touched generation after generation. Yet it just couldn’t be more relevant. To give it a life on the stage is an immense privilege, but to do it with Paul McCartney is off the scale. Paul’s wit, emotional honesty and melodic brilliance brings a whole new depth and breadth to the classic tale. I feel as if an angel must be looking after me.”

Meanwhile, Paul McCartney reunited with the last of his Beatles bandmates, Ringo Starr, at the Dodger Stadium in LA for the last night of his US tour on July 13, performing well known hits ‘Helter Skelter’ and ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.