Fox is eyeing an all-star cast to lead its Spamalot movie adaptation. The original Spamalot stage musical is based on the 1975 cult comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail and premiered on Broadway in 2005. A big screen version is moving forward under Fox's watch now, with original Monty Python member Eric Idle writing the script. Idle also cowrote the lyrics and book for the Spamalot musical, decades after he played Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Launcelot (among other roles) in the original Holy Grail movie.

Spamalot, like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, follows King Arthur as he embarks upon his quest to find the eponymous item with his Knights of the Round Table. In addition to carrying over the film's irreverent tone and humor, Spamalot adds a key character in the form of the Lady of the Lake - a diva who gives Arthur his sword Excalibur and even sings her own song about not having a bigger role in the musical (see "The Diva's Lament"). It appears that Fox already has their eye on a rising star to play that role in the film version.

According to THS, Tiffany Haddish is the top pick to play the Lady of the Lake in the Spamalot movie. The studio also reportedly wants Benedict Cumberbatch to play Arthur and Peter Dinklage to play Patsy, Arthur's trusty page (who follows him around banging two halves of a coconut together to make it sound like Arthur is riding a horse). Filming won't begin on Spamalot until next summer, but Fox will want to assemble the cast well ahead of then - to afford them sufficient time to prepare for the movie's song and dance numbers.

Cumberbatch and Dinklage are coming off their roles in Avengers: Infinity War and are higher in demand than ever right now. Both actors have shown a knack for Monty Python-style absurdist comedy in the past, making them excellent picks for the Spamalot movie. The same goes for Haddish, who continues to get more and more work after her breakout comedy turn in Girls Trip last summer. Her star should only continue to rise after her roles in upcoming films like The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and The Kitchen, so Fox would be smart to sign her to a deal asap.

Assuming Spamalot succeeds in securing a big name cast, the next question will be whether the musical will translate well to the big screen. The movie is being directed by Casey Nicholaw, a veteran with a long resume and decorated history in theater (see Mean Girls, Book of Mormon, Aladdin), but not much filmmaking experience. Fingers crossed, Nicholaw and his actors will find a way to make the Spamalot movie feel truly cinematic and not just like a recorded version of the stage show.

MORE: Cumberbatch's The Grinch Gets a New Trailer

Spamalot does not have a release date yet. We will let you know when that changes.

Source: THS