Angelina Jolie to produce Broadway-bound musical adaptation of ‘The Outsiders’

NEW YORK — Angelina Jolie is readying for a new role on Broadway. The Academy Award-winning actress has signed on to be the lead producer of the forthcoming musical adaptation of “The Outsiders.”

Based on the bestselling novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 movie of the same name, the production had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse earlier this year.

A rep announced Wednesday that Jolie will join a producing team that includes The Araca Group, whose credits include the Tony Award-winning revivals of “Oklahoma,” “Hello Dolly” and “A Raisin in the Sun.”

“I feel very fortunate to be a part of this special production,” Jolie, who has never appeared on Broadway, said in a statement. “I studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute where I realized my first love, as a performer, was the theatre. I had not found a way back until now.”

“I hope to be able to contribute while continuing to learn from this amazing team, who I have been working with since my daughter brought me to see the show at La Jolla Playhouse,” she continued. “I can’t begin to express how excited I am for this musical to make its Broadway debut and look forward to sharing this new adaptation of ‘The Outsiders’ with the world.”

Named one of the “100 most inspiring novels” by BBC Arts in 2019, “The Outsiders” details the conflict between two rival gangs — the working-class “Greasers” and the upper-class “Socs” — in 1960s Oklahoma.

The 1983 film adaptation starred C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio and Diane Lane.

Obie Award-winning playwright Adam Rapp scripted the musical adaptation with Justin Levine, who created the music with Jamestown Revival folk duo Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay. Broadway plans will be announced at a later date.

Jolie joins the latest wave of A-listers attaching their names to Broadway productions. Last fall, Mariah Carey joined the producing team of “Some Like It Hot” shortly before opening. Earlier that year, Jennifer Hudson, RuPaul and Don Cheadle added “Tony Award winner” to their credits for producing “A Strange Loop,” which took home the award for Best New Musical.