Stephen King and John Mellencamp Team Up on Broadway

The show is reportedly based on an idea formulated by Mellencamp, who once used the Rock and Roll moniker John "Cougar." Mellencamp plans to infuse the rock opera with "any type of music that Americans have invented." From his end, King has written a synopsis of the show and has helped to gain financial backing for the project.

The show reportedly will focus on two brothers who strongly dislike one another. This hatred reaches an apex when they travel with their father to a cabin that they had once frequented as children. Viewers come to find out that the brothers' father also had two older brothers who despised each other in similar fashion and whose hatred culminated with mutual murder at the very same cabin. The ghosts of the brothers sing in a variety of styles, including rock and roll, country, and rap.

In the past, King's attempts at conquering Broadway have fallen short, with his 1988 show based on the novel "Carrie" closing after just 5 shows and losing a total of $7 million. His success as an author is impressive however, having produces such novels as "The Shining," "The Green Mile," and "It." Mellencamp has had a similarly successful career as a rock artist, with many top 10 hits, including "Jack and Diane."

The unlikely pairing of Mellencamp and King should be interesting if nothing else, and the show is slated to be ready for Broadway's 2001 Fall season.