Studios have been chasing the film rights for years, and Jo Loesser, widow of songwriter Frank Loesser, has at long last found the deal of her liking.  She has given the go-ahead for 20th Century Fox to remake the stage and movie classic, Guys and Dolls. Perhaps it was their superb singing and dancing on last years Oscars that have positioned Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the top contenders to fill Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra’s shoes. Although there is no director or new script yet, Deadline reports that both Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt want in.

The musical and original film were adapted from the Damon Runyon short stories depicting gangsters from the 1920’s and 30’s. Frank Loesser wrote the music and lyrics, including the now-classics, “Luck be a Lady Tonight” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows wrote the book.

Marlon Brando in ‘Guys and Dolls,’ 1955

Guys and Dolls won a Tony for Best Musical in 1950, and the 1951 Pulitzer for Drama, until the Trustees of Columbia University vetoed the decision based on Abe Burrows involvement with the HUAC, with no Pulitzer being awarded that year. Abe Burrows did win a Pulitzer later on for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Guys and Dolls became an Oscar-nominated film in 1955.

Guys and Dolls captures the hustle and bustle, love and romance, of New York City, with it’s gangsters and gamblers, good girls and bad.