Josh Gad was chosen by Warner Brothers to co-write and star in the planned Gilligan’s Island film. Although the studio has not announced which character he will play, they have confirmed Gad will pen the script along with Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.
Lloyd and Ross Schwartz will produce the film, along with Tracey and Cathy Silvers. Lloyd and Ross are the sons of Gilligan’s Island creator Sherwood Schwartz.
The original comedy series featured seven people who were stranded on a deserted island. The castaways included Gilligan. The Skipper, The Professor, millionaires Mr. and Mrs. Howell, movie star Ginger, and Mary Ann — the girl-next-door.
As the seven characters had diverse backgrounds, they each had a unique and often stereotypical personality. Each episode was centered around the castaways’ effort and failure to leave the island.
As explained by Hollywood Reporter , the show only lasted three seasons . However, syndication throughout the 70s and 80s made it a classic with several generations .
A native of Hollywood, Florida, Josh Gad studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University, the Los Angeles improvisational School, and The Groundlings. He later co-founded The Lost Nomads comedy troupe.
Gad made his Broadway debut in 2005, starring as Willian Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He also appeared in several films, including 21 and The Rocker .
Biography.com reports that Gad went on to win a Tony nomination and a Grammy Award for his 2011 performance in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon . In 2012, he left the stage to create, produce, and co-star in the television series 1600 Penn . In 2013, he portrayed Steve Wozniak in the film Jobs .
In addition to acting and producing, Gad has done voiceover work for Ice Age: Continental Drift and most recently the animated film Frozen .
The talented actor, writer, and producer will have a chance to prove his versatility with the Gilligan’s Island film. Warner Brothers has not announced any further details about the film or the expected cast.
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