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“The L Word, the Musical” Feature Film Dances Into Theaters Next Year

Fans who thought they had seen the last of Bette, Tina, Shane, Alice, Tasha and even Jenny when the series ended last month after its sixth season, will get a chance to reunite with their favorite fictional lesbians next summer, when a feature film version of The L Word is released as a musical, according to a recent announcement by the film’s producers.

News of the film was greeted with surprise at a press conference held yesterday in Los Angeles, where Showtime executives and series creator and Executive Producer, Ilene Chaiken, confirmed deals have been finalized with cast members and Paramount Pictures to bring the groundbreaking cable series to the big screen as The L Word, the Musical by summer, 2010.

The L Word, The Musical joins the over 200 other films Paramount has in the works, including Grandma vs. Grandma, Hot for Teacher, and Psycho Funky Chimp.

When asked how many L Word cast members have singing or dancing experience, Chaiken did not immediately respond, but posed for photographers for several minutes.

When it first premiered in January, 2004, The L Word became the first television series in history to center around the lives of lesbians, in this case, a tightly knit group of trendy Hollywood lesbians and their friends, played by Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Erin Daniels, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Karina Lombard, Mia Kirshner, Pam Grier, Rachel Shelley, Rose Rollins and Daniela Sea.

All of the cast members have agreed to reprise their roles for the film.

Immediately after The L Word ended its six year run with a March finale that drew over 750,000 viewers, Chaiken and Showtime development execs began talks to create another outlet for the franchise.

To date, the L Word franchise has included the original series, its spinoff starring Leisha Hailey, a board game, the now-defunct OurChart website, a lipstick line, and an upcoming clothing line of men’s underwear and leather halter tops called “FSBS: For Shanes, By Shane.”

“Given the theatrical success of a ‘chick flick’ like Sex and the City, which grossed over $410 million worldwide, we believe The L Word, with its strangely loyal fan base, will be a top-grossing ‘chick flick’ for chicks who like other chicks,” said Showtime VP of Development, Sid Edelman.

After brainstorming with series producer, writer, music supervisor and close personal friend, Elizabeth Ziff, Chaiken decided upon the idea of a musical because “I’ve always wanted to write a musical, and I think I’ve proven the fans will watch whatever I give them.”

Along with other Betty band members, Amy Ziff and Alyson Palmer, Ziff has already composed many of the songs for the film.

Completed tunes include:

  • a Bette and Tina duet titled, “Half Ebony and Ivory”;
  • the ballad “I’m Only Hungry for You — Shane’s Song”
  • a solo written exclusively for Daniela Sea called “What Did I Do to Deserve This?”
  • Jenny Schecter’s “I Got Crazy in My Pants,” including five reprises
  • a duet with Peggy and Helena Peabody, “You Say Potato”
  • the ensemble showstopper, “L if I Know”
  • an expanded, sixteen-minute version of the TV show’s theme song featuring 52 more words that begin with the letter L

“The easiest song to write so far has been Kit’s dance number, ‘Babygirl!'” said Ziff, “because there’s only one line.”

When asked if fan favorites Sarah Shahi and Elizabeth Keener would also be returning, producers declined to comment, but instead, cited their desire to portray a wide spectrum of the LGBT community, “as long as the characters are physically attractive, thin, fashionable and have exciting, unique jobs.”

Toward that end, Jon Wolfe Nelson will return as Tom, a sign language interpreter and love interest for the show’s female-to-male transgender character, Max.

Other new characters written for the film include: Sandy, a man who gender-identifies as a female; Lee, a woman who gender-identifies as a man; Brenda, an unemployed stunt woman; and Michelle, a blond “bisexual” bombshell who makes a living as a perpetual reality show contestant.

In late breaking news, teen idol Zac Efron has just been added to the cast as a butch lesbian.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in August.

AfterEllen.com has acquired this exclusive promotional photo of the film:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Happy April Fool’s Day! Please don’t give away the joke in the subject line of your comments!

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