Zooey Deschanel Bringing 'Coal Miner's Daughter' To The Stage; Tom Hanks Broadway Bound With 'Lucky Guy'

Zooey DeschanelWe usually don't report on theater stuff, but when the names involved are as heavyweight as they are here, it's a bit hard to ignore, so onward…

Last night it was reported that Rachel McAdams was replacing Zooey Deschanel in Richard Curtis' "About Time," and while it's not quite clear why she bowed out, there won't be a lack of ambitious projects to take on. The actress/singer is set to star in a stage version of "Coal Miner's Daughter," the famed 1980 movie that told the story of country music legend Loretta Lynn and won Sissy Spacek an Oscar for her performance. The project is still in early stages, with a creative team still to get put together, but they are off on the right foot. Deschanel can belt the hell out of a tune, and as she's shown with She & Him, she's got twang to spare, so this seems like a no-brainer. With a calendar that will see her busy most of the year on the hit Fox sitcom "The New Girl," this could be a way off yet, but it has the makings to be a hit.

Meanwhile, it's hard to believe that comic actor turned serious actor Tom Hanks hasn't performed on Broadway yet, but it looks like he's going to cross it off his bucket list. Hanks is set to team with writer Nora Ephron for the drama "Lucky Guy" about Daily News columnist Mike McAlary. The journalist was famed fixture on the New York City crime beat, covering numerous police corruption scandals and perhaps most famously the Abner Louima case which won him a Pulitzer prize. "Angels In America" director George C. Wolfe will helm the production which begins rehearsals in January for a late 2013 premiere. Might as well start lining up for tickets now.

Finally, The Broadway and Vine Fund has optioned the rights to the 1984 Matt Dillon movie "The Flamingo Kid" to turn it into a stage musical. Casting and the director is yet to be announced, but it's pretty easy to see why this '60s set story of a young kid who works a summer job at the titular club during the summer before college was snapped up — the soundtrack boasts an array of hits from era by Little Richard, The Chiffons, Martha And The Vandellas and more. [Variety/New York Times/The Wrap]