Australian comedian begins work on a musical adaptation of Bill Murray’s iconic film Groundhog Day.

Australian comedian Tim Minchin has announced work on a musical adaptation of the hit 1993 film Groundhog Day. Danny Rubin, who wrote the film’s script and Matthew Warchus, director of hit Broadway show Matilda, will also be on board.

The film of Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, tells the story of a weatherman who gets stuck in a time loop in a hick town where he is forced to live the same day over and over again.

“Our version of Groundhog Day is going to be both instantly recognisable, and utterly different,” Minchin wrote in an online statement. “The central conceit is perfectly suited to the theatre… it has the potential to be complex, dark, visually fascinating, and thematically rich, whilst still being a joyous romantic comedy with cool tunes and lots of gags. It’s certainly not an easy job, and I’m truly honoured – and genuinely excited – that I am being allowed a crack at it.”

The West End smash Matilda, for which Minchin wrote music and lyrics, has been playing at London’s Cambridge Theatre since October 2011. In April last year, the production made its American debut at...