A Rocky musical has just been picked up by European producers. It'll play in Germany next year, then head to New York in 2013:

Meehan told the Times that Stallone, the story's owner, had approached him about the idea of a "Rocky" musical. Meehan, a Tony Award winner for Annie, Hairspray and The Producers, told the paper to expect an intimate show with a handful of principal characters, following the first film's plot.

This gives me an idea: Broadway loves movie adaptations that put the crew in danger, and both theater and boxing are struggling to remain relevant. Instead of a big production, just put a ring on stage. Manny Pacquiao is a vocalist. Floyd Mayweather is probably looking for a second career. Don King is nothing if not theatrical. If that's not enough, Mike Tyson is always up for a cameo.

But if they're gonna go through with it, I hope Thunderlips gets a musical number.

(H/T tomuban)

Gonna Fly Now? Rocky Musical in Development From Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Thomas Meehan [Playbill]