Mel Brooks thought there was ‘no reason’ to make The Producers into a musical

Mel Brooks in the press room during the EE British Academy Film Awards 2017 (Ian West/PA) - (PA Archive)

US actor and writer Mel Brooks has said he thought there was “no reason” to make his 1967 hit film The Producers into a musical.

The 98-year-old, who won an original screenplay Oscar for the film, said he was initially reluctant to adapt it for the stage but relented through the persistence of a producer.