School Daze: The Musical

In late November 2014, an anonymous hacking group that calls themselves “Guardians of Peace” breached Sony Entertainment’s servers, leaking a massive trove of documents, including hundreds of thousands of emails that have made their way online. An email dated April 4, 2014, from Bart Walker, Spike Lee’s agent at ICM, to Doug Belgrad, President of SPE Motion Picture Group, details the revised script for Lee’s School Daze Too, a planned sequel to the 1988 film Lee wrote and directed. It’s allegedly being packaged as a starring vehicle for rapper Drake and Kevin Hart.

“This is a new draft that Spike has written after meetings with Drake, who will play the lead role of PE*NIS, and Kevin Hart who will play DAT NIGGA JIGGA. The budget is $ 9 million (net, after Georgia tax credits), not including historic costs, star salaries, creative producer fees,” the email read. “I believe in the film both as an entertainment — a college film — and as a provocative and exciting piece about the conflict of traditional values (education, college) and hip hop/star/celebrity culture.  Why go to college to get a job to make money when you can make more money rapping, stripping, and creating salacious music videos even if they demean women? 
”

Although much could be written about Lee’s colorful names for his characters and the stark characterization of the movie’s plot, this article focuses on the overall premise of a new or revamped School Daze project. While the original School Daze movie focused on issues of colorism and the conflict between Black Greek Letter Organizations and “Conscious” students at a fictional historically Black college, an updated version of the film might delve into the value of a college degree versus the quick fame and money that some have experienced by becoming rappers. One can almost imagine a “Twerk Off” that pits rap video vixens against young women who recognize that some elements of twerking can be traced back to African dances hundreds of years old.

Since the email is now over a year old and there has been no industry buzz about School Daze Too, it appears that this idea has been shelved, at least for the foreseeable future. But that doesn’t stop Broadway Black from imagining a musical based on School Daze. The original movie was a musical; many of its key scenes would translate well to the stage. Casting for a new “Spike Lee Joint” might also be very imaginative.

Use the Comment Section below to share your thoughts:

Who would you cast in School Daze: The Musical?

What issues could a School Daze: The Musical tackle?

What one thing would make you want to see School Daze: The Musical at its premiere?

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