Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley to take country musical May We All to the big screen

Florida Georgia Line member Brian Kelley’s plan to bring a country musical to life is now extending to a movie version that is being developed simultaneously.

May We All was first announced in October 2019 as a musical, with a developmental production at Memphis’ Playhouse in the Square in 2020, to have been followed by an official Nashville premiere in 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic pushed these stage debuts further back to sometime later this year (with eyes on commercial residency), producers decided to move up a film adaption.

The movie will be directed by Andy Fickman, who directed the Kevin James sitcom Kevin Can Wait. Other directional credits include films, She’s The Man (2006), Race to Witch Mountain (2009) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015). Most recently, he directed a successful production of Heathers the Musical and is currently working on a musical version of the 2004 film, 13 Going On 30 (also known as Suddenly 30).

Kelley says, “My partners and I are really excited to welcome Andy to the May We All fam! Not only do we connect on a country music-lovin’ level, but I admire his work as a director and truly believe he’ll bring the heart of our script to life. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for everyone to finally be able to enjoy May We All – from the stage to the big screen.”

May We All is “a story of disappearing small-town America as seen through the hopeful eyes of its youth,” according to the press release. It follows an aspiring country singer named Jenna Coates, who reluctantly returns home after trying to make a career in Nashville, ultimately to discover that her roots may take her a lot further than her dreams.

Fickman says, “The script uses powerful, heart-warming songs from some of country music’s most celebrated artists to examine the complexities of how our hometown shape and mould our hopes and aspirations. I can’t wait for the world to join us on his uplifting, musical journey.”

The musical’s score will feature no fewer than 26 well-known country acts – among them, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Patsy Cline, Zac Brown Band, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, The Chicks and Old Dominion. Two original songs co-written by Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line will also debut exclusively in the show.

The musical will be directed by Shelley Butler and will feature a book written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson and Eric Pfeffinger, with arrangements and orchestrations by Brian Usifer.

The film does not yet have a projected release date.

Florida Georgia Line will release their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On on February 12.

For more breaking news from CountryTown, check out here.