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The story goes that the casting of "Groundhog Day" gave its writer, Danny Rubin, a cause for concern when Bill Murray got picked for the lead role of Phil Connors, the grumpy weatherman who eventually sees the brighter side of life after living the same day over and over again. Admittedly, while we can't imagine anyone else in the role now, maybe he wouldn't have been so worried had Batman got the gig instead.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Michael Keaton revealed that he was approached for the lead role of the beloved comedy before Murray got the call. Unfortunately, he didn't accept the offer because Phil Connors felt like a character he didn't want to play again.

"I didn't get it — I thought, This guy sounds like the kind of wry, sardonic, glib young man I've played — and it ended up being so great," the actor explained.

He was right.

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This February, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the return of beloved shows like Invincible and Reacher to the much-anticipated teen romantic drama film My Fault: London. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 10 best films that are coming to Prime Video in February 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

A Fish Called Wanda (February 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96% Credit – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A Fish Called Wanda is a heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton from a screenplay by John Cleese. The 1988 film revolves around a group of thieves and con artists who team up to pull off the perfect heist, but things go horribly wrong because they all try to double-cross each other.

In 1993, Bill Murray starred in what is arguably his best and most popular film when he played weatherman, Phil Connors, in the hilarious time loop comedy, Groundhog Day. Written by Danny Rubin, Groundhog Day is one of the greatest feel good movies, with a complex story about second (and second thousandth) chances and how true happiness waits when we learn to live for others not just for ourselves. One of the best parts about Groundhog Day is that it reunited Murray with Harold Ramis, his co-star in Stripes and the Ghostbusters movies. Though Ramis does have a cameo as a doctor in Groundhog Day, it's a different type of role that Ramis is known for this time around.

Nicole Scherzinger, Succession star Sarah Snook, Game of Thrones and Sherlock actor Mark Gatiss, a revival of the musical Sunset Boulevard and the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow were among the winners at the 2024 Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievements in London theater. The ceremony at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital was hosted by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.

The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Sunset Boulevard, which has starred Scherzinger as Norma Desmond and is set to come to Broadway this year, won the best musical revival award, the best actress honor for the former Pussycat Dolls singer and five other honors after also leading the nominations with 11.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the Netflix hit series, which has hinted at its Broadway ambitions, won the best new entertainment or comedy play award, as well as the Olivier for best set design.

Dear England,...

Sarah Snook, Sarah Jessica Parker, Andrew Scott and David Tennant were among the nominees for the 2024 Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievements in London theater.

Parker was nominated for best actress for her role in Plaza Suite, opposite her husband, Matthew Broderick, while Snook was nominated in the same category for her one-woman take on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Tennant was nominated for best actor for his role in Macbeth, in the same category as Andrew Scott, in a one-man version of Vanya.

Sunset Boulevard, which starred Nicole Scherzinger, who is also nominated, and is set to come to Broadway next year, received 11 nominations, while Dear England, a play by James Graham about an English football manager, received nine nominations. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the television series, which has also hinted at its Broadway ambitions, is up for best new entertainment or comedy play.

The Olivier...

Stars including Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Snook, Andrew Scott and David Tennant will compete for Olivier Awards at the UK’s most prestigious theater ceremony next month.

The Sex and the City stars is up for Best Actress for her performance in Plaza Suite – her first Olivier – while Succession’s Snook has picked up a nod for her critically-acclaimed performance as 26 characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In the Best Actor category, Scott’s performance in Vanya will come up against Tennant’s role in Macbeth, while the starry nominee list also includes Joseph Fiennes for Dear England, which is being made into a BBC series, Mark Gatiss for The Motive And The Cue and James Norton in A Little Life.

Other notable nominations include for singer Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard, where she has picked up a nod for Best Actress in a Musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s...

Phil relives the same day approximately 12,400 times in Groundhog Day, equating to almost 34 years. Groundhog Day director Harold Ramis initially believed Phil was trapped for 10 years, but later went back on his stance. Not knowing how long Phil was trapped is part of the movie's message - the days are meant to blend together for both Phil and the audience.

This article contains mention of suicide attempts in the movie Groundhog Day.

In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, becomes trapped in a time loop, but the film never explicitly specifies just how many times Phil relives the same day over and over. Directed by Harold Ramis and co-written by Danny Rubin, Groundhog Day follows a cynical weatherman (Murray) who finds himself stuck in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, forced to relive the titular annual holiday forever. After Phil finds his purpose in life and becomes a better person, the curse...

Chicago – Bill Murray is a son of Chicagoland, born and raised in the area and beginning his career at The Second City. To honor his friend and collaborator Harold Ramis, Murray made an appearance on February 2nd, 2024, on Chicago’s Navy Pier on behalf of Harold Ramis Day and of course his classic film “Groundhog Day.”

Bill Murray Back in his Home Land

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

William James “Bill” Murray was born in Chicago-adjacent Evanston and grew up in nearby Wilmette. After an attempt at college, he followed his brother Brian Doyle Murray to The Second City and found his performance niche. He moved to New York City when fellow Second City vet John Belushi recruited him for “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.” After missing out on the original cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975, he did a stint on Howard Cosell’s...

Previous | Image 1 of 13 | NextBust of Harold Ramis on his Day, February 2nd, 2024.

Chicago – It was a special February 2nd, 2024, in Chicago. Not only was it the quasi-midwinter holiday Groundhog Day, but cast members of the 1993 classic film “Groundhog Day” – including Bill Murray, his brother Brian Doyle Murray and others – made appearances on the famous Navy Pier to honor the late director of the film, Harold Ramis. From this year forward, February 2nd will be Harold Ramis Day in Chicago.

The beloved film tells the story of Phil (Bill Murray), a Pittsburgh weatherman who is assigned with Producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and Cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) to cover the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Brian Doyle Murray portrays city official Buster Green). When a snowstorm strands them in the small town, Phil wakes up to find out its February 2nd yet again. He is now stuck in a time loop,...

Phil Connors learns to use his time to better himself and help others, ultimately breaking the Groundhog Day time loop. The number of times Phil lives through the time loop is not explicitly given, but it is implied to be longer than what is shown on screen. Phil's character arc and transformation, as well as gaining Rita's approval, are what ultimately bring an end to the time loop.

At the end of Groundhog Day, Phil Connors learns to use the time he has to enhance his life and use his abilities to help others, making him a popular figure in Punxsutawney, finally winning the heart of Rita, and breaking the endless repeating loop of Groundhog Day. Directed by Harold Ramis from a script he wrote with Danny Rubin, Groundhog Day is a classic comedy featuring performances from Bull Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliot, Stephen Tobolowsky, and more.

Phil Connors...

It might be Thanksgiving, but for Phil Connors, every day is Groundhog Day. And poor Ned Ryerson, he was sucked right into the weatherman’s seemingly endless loop of misery. But his portrayer, Stephen Tobolowsky, remains proud of what is surely his most popular movie, even though the production was doozier than a Punxsutawney puddle – something we detailed in an episode of “Wtf Happened To This Movie?!”

On the occasion of Groundhog Day’s 30th anniversary, Tobolowsky said the production brought much debate between co-screenwriters Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin. “After the first week, Harold Ramis got with Danny Rubin, our writer, and he says, ‘What’s the story we’re really telling here?’ Are we going to have a series of sequences where Bill just has no consequences and acts crazy, like he was doing in all of those movies back then, or are we telling the story about,...

Stephen Tobolowsky is proud of his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, citing the difficulty in getting the film to the finished product as one of the reasons it stands out. The original script was revisited and scenes were constantly cut and reshaped, resulting in a brilliant film according to Tobolowsky. Tobolowsky praises Bill Murray's brilliance and Andie MacDowell's stunning performance, emphasizing her as the gift of the film.

Stephen Tobolowsky cites Groundhog Day as one of the projects he's most proud of during his decades-long career. His role in the classic comedy, albeit short, is unforgettable for fans of the film. He portrays insurance agent Ned Ryerson (aka Needlenose Ned), who annoys Bill Murray's Phil so much that he eventually punches him. For Tobolowsky, one of the reasons the film stands out is the difficulty in getting to the finished product — as the original script was...

In the series finale of Physical, lead character Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) takes a look at herself in the mirror and notices a pimple along her laugh line. Her natural inclination is to pop the blemish, but upon leaning in and examining the spot more closely, she decides to leave it be. The scene in the episode titled “Lucky Star” is a nod to the series premiere, “Let’s Do This Thing,” which debuted on June 18, 2021, and introduced Sheila in a similar vein along with the inner voice that would threaten to be her undoing over the next three seasons.

“It’s a small thing, but when she looks at herself in the mirror at the beginning, there’s so much beauty, yet all she sees is ugliness and darkness,” series creator Annie Weisman tells The Hollywood Reporter. “At the end of the season when she looks at herself in the mirror,...

The second season of Physical ended bizarrely. Sheila is all set to start her aerobics classes with Greta and Ernie and plans to expand on them. Danny and Sheila have finally come to terms with the divorce, but he has finally put her on the back foot by introducing her to sitcom actress Kelly Kilmartin. Knowing the body image issues that Sheila carries within herself, Danny does this to mentally affect her, knowing she would be bothered by it. Sheila heads to meet John Breem and implies that she wants to annihilate her competition. As the third season begins, it will be interesting to come across stories about women from 1980s America and how they trudged through many obstacles to achieve absolute independence.

Spoilers Ahead

Sheila and Greta take over

Physical Season 3 jumps straight to the new aerobic classes that Sheila has begun, with Greta and Ernie being prime investors.

AppleTV+ has been churning out some pretty good content regularly since its inception, and it is giving other channels and their Ott platforms a run for their money. In the lineup of dark comedies that viewers have watched in the past few years, Physical, created by Annie Weisman, is a good addition to the genre because it pushes the boundaries of how female-led stories can be conveyed vividly. The first and second seasons were released in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and we are waiting for the upcoming third season. Before that, let us understand what we witnessed in the last two seasons of Physical.

Set in the 1980s in San Diego, America, the show begins with a shot of Sheila getting ready for her televised aerobics show, which indicates that she is already a successful fitness instructor. The story takes the viewers back to 1981 when Sheila is a housewife running the household like clockwork,...

Given that there are a number of confusing movies out here, it is quite confusing that some directors choose to delete scenes that could easily fix them. Sometimes, the removal of these scenes actually make the movie or franchise better, particularly in cases where confusing the audience or keeping them guessing is part of the point. On the other hand, plenty of scenes that didn't make the final cut have resulted in plot holes that leave the viewer befuddled for the wrong reasons. As a highly commercial and collaborative art form, these challenges are inherent to filmmaking.

Indeed, deleted scenes that change the whole movie can be found throughout modern film history. In many cases, these are results of the original movie getting cut by the studio for the theatrical release, which can involve significantly shortening the director's initial vision. While studios dissect theatrical cuts with the majority of viewers...

Not all comedy movies ignore the need for a riveting plot; there are plenty of well-written comedies with a plot just as strong as the humor. Since the top priority of a comedy movie is to make the audience laugh, a good plot often takes a backseat. The very best comedy movies, however, find time for an intriguing plot to keep viewers invested while still providing plenty of laughs. There are sci-fi comedies that wring laughs out of complicated concepts and action comedies with a captivating police procedural storyline in between the car chases and cop banter.

There’s an Agatha Christie-style whodunit baked into the “buddy cop” storyline of Hot Fuzz. The Chandleresque mystery plot of The Big Lebowski captures the complexity of the film noir genre while deconstructing it. Back to the Future sets up a bunch of plot points in 1985 that come back around and reveal...

That's right, woodchuck-checkers, it's Groundhog Day Day! The sensational musical adaptation of the beloved Harold Ramis/Bill Murray comedy is now back on the London stage at The Old Vic.

In this interview special, Chris Hewitt sits down with Danny Rubin, writer of the original movie and the book for the musical, Tim Minchin, the mastermind behind the music and lyrics, and director Matthew Warchus, to talk about taking another bite of the cherry, the songs of the musical, its ill-fated Broadway stint, and much, much more. Enjoy.

Listen to the episode on the pod app of your choice — or via the PlanetRadio player above.

When director Harold Ramis and producing partner Trevor Albert stumbled upon the screenplay for Groundhog Day, no one knew it would become a film that viewers would (voluntarily) watch over and over.

Having followed National Lampoon’s Vacation with 1986’s underperforming Club Paradise, Ramis wanted his next project to aim outside the box. CAA’s Richard Lovett tipped him off to Danny Rubin’s spec script for a philosophical comedy about jaded TV weatherman Phil Connors, who gets snowbound covering the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; he soon finds himself unable to stop reliving the titular holiday.

“I don’t remember much about what I was doing 30 years ago — or three years ago — but I remember sitting down and reading that script, and by the time I got to page 20, yelling to Harold, ‘I think I have a script you’re gonna want to read,'” Albert tells The Hollywood Reporter.

For a film about a Pennsylvania weatherman getting stuck in an endless time loop, watching "Groundhog Day" never gets old. Screenwriter Danny Rubin and director Harold Ramis are credited with creating one of the freshest scripts to hit Hollywood in the '90s, a story that blends absurdist humor, Buddhist thought, and heartwarming romance. By marrying Rubin's original script, which had struck the darker tone of an indie film, with Ramis' trademark slapstick comedy that delighted audiences in "Caddyshack," the two racked up a BAFTA in 1994 for best original screenplay. That award, and the screenwriting credit, would have been shared with Bill Murray...

The post Bureaucracy Stopped Bill Murray From Getting Full Credit For Groundhog Day appeared first on /Film.

The story of "Groundhog Day" is dripping with irony. Although screenwriter Danny Rubin is not a household name, he should be. While director Harold Ramis gets much of the credit for the success of the 1993 movie, Rubin is solely responsible for the inventive original screenplay and only later refined it with Ramis. The film was so popular, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has become synonymous with days that feel like they might never end — or since Covid-19, perhaps years that feel like they'll never end.

Despite the film's acclaim, Rubin has just four screenwriting credits to his name, and that's where the irony...

The post There's a Good Reason Groundhog Day Is So Often Imitated appeared first on /Film.

Today’s winter TCA presser kicked off with a first look at the upcoming Apple TV+ dark comedy series, Physical, starring Rose Byrne, who also serves as an executive producer along with creator and showrunner Annie Weisman.

Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego, the show follows Sheila Rubin (Byrne), a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband’s bid for state assembly. As she battles a complex set of personal demons relating to her self-image, she finds release through the unlikeliest source: the world of aerobics.

“A lot of what we’re exploring in the show is the divide between the external and the internal for so many women,” said Weisman, who was joined by Byrne and co-star Rory Scovel, who plays Danny Rubin in the series. “I think one of the ways that Rose inhabits that so beautifully is that you see that.

Throughout the eighties and even beyond, it was tough to find a hit comedy that Harold Ramis didn't have a credit somewhere on. The Second City alumni was an actor, director, but most notably a screenwriter. He wrote a number of films, almost always working with a team of other successful comedians of the time, working with the likes of Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, John Belushi, and a plethora of talented comedy writers like Doug Kenney, Danny Rubin, and Dan Goldberg, just to name a few.

Related: The 10 Best Comedy Movies Of All Time (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

By surrounding himself with talent, studying comedy relentlessly, and possessing a natural writing talent, Ramis helped craft some of the most iconic comedies of all-time. Here are the ten best films he wrote, based on IMDb ratings.

Here we go again. The concept behind “Groundhog Day” is perfect in its simplicity. A sarcastic, narcissistic man finds himself stuck in a time loop of the same day, Groundhog Day, until he becomes a better person.

But more than a quarter century after the 1993 movie’s release, producer Trevor Albert and screenwriter Danny Rubin had the same horror story about the film’s development that other filmmakers have dealt with over and over again.

“Somebody whose name I won’t say said, ‘Why does the day repeat? Why the hell … I like it, it’s good, but I don’t understand why he gets stuck in this loop,” Albert told TheWrap about an executive at Columbia’s note regarding the script.

Also Read: Andie MacDowell on 'Groundhog Day' at 25: Bill Murray 'Asked Me to Really Slap Him'

There’s no specific reason given for why Phil...

With a quirky romantic comedy and a gimmicky sci-fi premise, “Groundhog Day” managed to tap into universal, spiritual, larger than life questions. What kind of person do I want to be? What would I do with eternity? Do I have the capacity to change?

But the creators of the classic 1993 film say that the Bill Murray comedy’s deeper themes and success feel almost accidental.

“I was not trying to write a spiritual piece, but I was trying to write a story about a human life,” screenwriter Danny Rubin told TheWrap on the film’s 25th anniversary. “You sort of go through these periods of time where it’s not quite right, and you feel like you want to move on, and you feel like you’ve tried everything and it’s just not changing. Yeah, of course. I think that’s a very common, human experience. I don’t...

With a quirky romantic comedy and a gimmicky sci-fi premise, “Groundhog Day” managed to tap into universal, spiritual, larger than life questions. What kind of person do I want to be? What would I do with eternity? Do I have the capacity to change? But the creators of the classic film, released a quarter century ago, say that the Bill Murray comedy’s deeper themes and success feel almost accidental. “I was not trying to write a spiritual piece, but I was trying to write a story about a human life,” screenwriter Danny Rubin told TheWrap. “You sort of go through these periods...

Here we go again. The concept behind “Groundhog Day” is perfect in its simplicity. A sarcastic, narcissistic man finds himself stuck in a time loop of the same day, Groundhog Day, until he becomes a better person. But as the movie hits its 25th anniversary on Feb. 12, producer Trevor Albert and screenwriter Danny Rubin had the same horror story about the film’s development that other filmmakers have dealt with over and over again. “Somebody whose name I won’t say said, ‘Why does the day repeat? Why the hell … I like it, it’s good, but I don’t understand why he...

Simon Brew Feb 2, 2019

Groundhog Day was nearly a $3 million independent movie. And a much darker one, with a big twist ending...

Spoilers lie ahead for Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day, directed by the late Harold Ramis and starring the peerless Bill Murray, was a solid hit in 1993, but crucially, it’s been a film with staying power. It’s one of the few movies that you can legitimately say is enjoyed just as much today as it was on its original release.

But as with pretty much every film, it all could have been very different. In the case of Groundhog Day though, we’ve got an idea as to just how different. That’s because the man who came up with the idea for the film, Danny Rubin, penned a fascinating book where he detailed the genesis and development of the film. And in doing so, he’s revealed that...

Wake up all over again as Sony Pictures Entertainment will celebrate the 25th anniversary of director Harold Ramis' groundbreaking comedy classic Groundhog Day with a series of screenings. As a highlight of the celebration, the film will be returning to the big screen in time for Groundhog Day, February 2nd, in the United States and Canada.

Prior to the theatrical re-release, Sony Pictures Entertainment released the film on 4K Ultra HD on January 23rd, exclusively at Best Buy stores nationwide. Like the theatrical re-release, this version was fully restored in 4K and presented in 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos audio. The Blu-ray included special features such as commentary with director Harold Ramis, deleted scenes and more! Said Adrian Smith, President, Domestic Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing.

"We are excited to bring Groundhog Day, widely considered one of the best comedies of 90's, back to the big screen for its 25th anniversary.

Simon Brew Feb 2, 2018

Groundhog Day was nearly a $3m independent movie. And a much darker one, with a big twist ending...

Spoilers lie ahead for Groundhog Day

Just to cheer you up, this year marks the 25th anniversary – 25 years! – of the modern classic Groundhog Day. The film, directed by the late Harold Ramis and starring the peerless Bill Murray, was a solid hit in 1993, but crucially, it’s been a film with staying power. It’s one of the few movies that you can legitimately say is enjoyed just as much today as it was on its original release. The 25th birthday of the film – complete with a 25th anniversary Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, no less – continues the celebration.

But as with pretty much every film, it all could have been very different. In the case of Groundhog Day though, we’ve got an idea as to just how different.

The Groundhog Day musical is a joyful experience about one huge jerk. As Bill Murray’s take on the same character does in the Harold Ramis film classic, Phil eventually learns his lessons, but this stage adaptation from director Matthew Warchus, playwright Danny Rubin, and composer Tim Minchin turn his cantankerousness up a couple of notches before […]

The post ‘Groundhog Day: The Musical’ Review: A Splendid, High-Spirited Retelling of a Classic appeared first on /Film.

In a time of constant remakes and reimaginings, it's nice to see some of them turn out to be quality works. It's even better when they can be recognized by the original creators as such. A musical adaptation of Groundhog Day has been playing on Broadway for a few months now, and since that time it's racked up a bunch of Tony Award nominations, among other accolades. Now the star of the 1993 movie, Bill Murray, has seen it twice and is a huge fan. The New York Times has a great report on Murray's first time seeing the show, on Tuesday night, with co-star and brother Brian Doyle-Murray plus the co-writer of both screen and stage versions, Danny Rubin. He caught the musical, during which he reportedly sobbed, and then afterward his group went backstage to...

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Bill Murray revisited one of his most beloved roles Tuesday night at the August Wilson Theater in New York City, where he watched the musical adaptation of “Groundhog Day.” Joining Murray were his brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, who played Buster in the original film, and screenwriter Danny Rubin, who co-wrote the 1993 film as well as the Broadway adaptation.

Read More:Bill Murray Sings A Happy Tune In Paul Shaffer’s New Animated Music Video — Watch

Widely considered one of the greatest comedies of all time and one of Murray’s most iconic performances, “Groundhog Day” follows pompous weatherman Phil Connors (Andy Karl int he musical) who must relive the same day over and over again in the podunk town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Murray appeared deeply engaged throughout the night, the New York Times reports. Murray bobbed his head to the music, pumped his fist in the air, and even once let out an audible “Wow!

Nearly a quarter-century after its release, “Groundhog Day” remains one of Bill Murray’s most famous movies, and this week, he gave the Broadway musical adaptation of his beloved comedy his blessing after it reportedly moved him to tears. The New York Times covered Murray’s visit to the August Wilson Theatre to see the show, during which he took selfies and hung out with starstruck fans who couldn’t believe that Phil Connors himself was with them in the audience. He was joined by his brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, who played Buster Green in the original film, and Danny Rubin,...

Harold Ramis and Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day is one of the best comedies to ever come out of Hollywood, its heartwarming message of self-betterment dovetailing beautifully with the script’s absurd riffs on Nietzschean philosophy. More than 20 years after its release, the film continues to capture the imaginations of viewers, with making-of accounts, fan edits, and now a Broadway production celebrating it.

The Groundhog Day musical premiered on Broadway last April, and though it has since received fawning reviews from the New York theater cognoscenti, the most important critics of all didn’t arrive until last night, when Murray himself showed up alongside co-star (and brother) Brian Doyle-Murray and co-screenwriter Danny Rubin (who also wrote the book for the musical).

The New York Times’ Sopan Deb chronicled the night both in an article and on Twitter, taking the opportunity to highlight the types of charming, offhand quirks for ...

To the delight of fans and cast alike, Bill Murray attended a performance of the Tony-nominated Groundhog Day, a musical adaptation of the 1993 film starring Murray and Andie MacDowell.

He managed to enter the August Wilson Theatre in New York City on Tuesday night will relatively little fanfare. But once inside the lobby, Murray, who was accompanied by screenwriter (and book writer of the musical) Danny Rubin and his brother Brian Doyle-Murray, was soon spotted by fans -- and quickly ended up on social media. The New York Times, which tagged along during the actor’s first visit to the musical, reported that he was greeted with applause from the audience before the show started.

By the time intermission came, Et has learned, Murray obliged adoring fans with selfies in the lobby.

At the end of the show, which tells the story of a local weatherman stuck repeating the same day over and over again in Punxsutawney...

Bill Murray returned to Groundhog Day… again.

On Tuesday, the 66-year-old comedian went back in time — taking in a performance of Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical based on his hit 1993 movie about a cranky TV weatherman who gets stuck in a time warp while covering the Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.

It was Murray’s first time seeing the musical, which was nominated for seven 2017 Tony awards and took home London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. And according to reports from The New York Times,...

If you have a theater fan in your life who has been extra hyped these days, it’s likely because the 2017 Tony Awards are nearly here.

The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (as the Tonys are officially known) recognize the highest honor in U.S. theater — the equivalent of television’s Emmys or the film industry’s Oscars.

With no Hamilton-sized hit this year, the race in the top categories has been pretty wide open and hard to predict — with only Bette Midler’s turn in the revival of Hello, Dolly! a lock for the best actress in a musical prize.

While Hamilton dominated Broadway theater in 2016, this year's Tony nominations are more evenly distributed.

The 71st annual Tony Awards nominations were unveiled on Tuesday morning live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Announced by Jane Krakowski and Hamilton alum Christopher Jackson, the honorees were led by Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 with 12 nominations, including Best Musical and Best Leading Actor for Josh Groban's role in the War and Peace-inspired story.

Related: Kristen Bell Shares Dax Shepard's Hilarious Review of 'Hamilton' After Seeing the Musical for the First Time

Dear Evan Hansen landed nine nominations, two of which were for Best Musical and Best Leading Actor (Ben Platt of Pitch Perfect). The stage adaptation of Groundhog Day and the 9/11 musical, Come From Away, rounded out the Best Musical noms.

Bette Midler also scored a Best Leading Actress nomination for her performance in Hello, Dolly! -- her...

Need an antidote to the saccharine good-time, small-town vibe of “Come From Away”? You’ll find it in the inventive, acerbic, and thoroughly irreverent “Groundhog Day,” which opened Monday at the August Wilson Theatre. Original “Groundhog Day” screenwriter Danny Rubin, with much help from songwriter Tim Minchin and director Matthew Warchus, has successfully transferred his 1993 movie comedy to the musical stage; and in the process, taken even more swipes at the vapid, rodent-obsessed inhabitants of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Minchin and Warchus, being British and Australian, might have something to do with the show’s overall anti-Americana flair. They also bring a nice Dickensian.

Based on the iconic film, Groundhog Day The Musical is reimagined by the award-winning creators of the international hitMatilda The Musical-including director Matthew Warchus and songwriter Tim Minchin-with a book by original screenwriter Danny Rubin. Starring two-time Tony Award nominee Andy Karl, Groundhog Day is the new musical comedy about living life to the fullest, one day at a time. Meet the cast before they take their opening bows...

Just weeks before the opening of the new Broadway musical Groundhog Dog, Vulture has a very sweet profile of Danny Rubin, the original Groundhog Day screenwriter who is bringing this new stage version to life, too. It’s a story that could be tinged with bitterness; Groundhog Day is basically Rubin’s one claim to fame, and he has struggled to work within the Hollywood system after its success. Instead, Rubin comes across as affable, eccentric, and content with his rather odd career path.

Australian comedian Tim Minchin, who wrote the music and lyrics to Groundhog Day: The Musical, describes Rubin as “an incredibly gentle, sensitive guy, too good for the world he ended up in, too pure in his desire to write interesting things for Hollywood.” Indeed, Vulture’s profile is full of stories about Rubin refusing to play nice with the Hollywood execs who courted him after...

Here at Et, we're obsessed with a lot of things -- and for the week of March 13 to March 19, this is what we’re most excited about:

Why We're Obsessed With 'Beauty and the Beast'

We are teetering at our desks, patiently waiting for the release of Disney's remake of Beauty and the Beast. The adaptation of the beloved fairy tale will take the "tale as old as time" back to the big screen on Friday. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens take the leads, with Watson showcasing her singing chops in the live-action film. "I think it's a really amazing moment in a Disney film. And I hope it speaks for itself," Josh Gad, who plays LeFou, told Et at the film's Los Angeles premiere. "I think that all of the characters, including Belle, have just come so much further than even the original."

Exclusive: 6 Things You Didn't Know About the Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Remake...

The Olivier Awards introduced some magic into the spring theater season with the March 6 announcement of their nominations recognizing the best of the London stage. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the West End-dominating hit from J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, received a record-breaking 11 nods, a new record for a play. “In a year of global change, the nominees for this year’s awards demonstrate London theatre’s ability to challenge our perceptions, stir our emotions, and entertain us,” said Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, the producing body behind the awards. Nominated in the new play category alongside the Potter stage sequel are Nick Payne’s “Elegy,” Annie Baker’s “The Flick,” and “One Night In Miami...” by Kemp Powers. Competing for the prize for best new musical will be “Dreamgirls,” “School of Rock the Musical,” “The Girls,” and the Broadway-bound “Groundhog Day.

There may be six more weeks of winter on the way, but there's still something to celebrate, a new Broadway show BroadwayWorld was there at press day for the Broadway premiere of Groundhog Day, the new musical featuring music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Danny Rubin, and directed by Matthew Warchus. Following a performance from the cast,NYC's resident forecasterStaten Island Chuck stopped by the August Wilson Theatre to help open thebox office.

The box office for the Broadway premiere of Groundhog Day, the new musical featuring music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Danny Rubin, and directed by Matthew Warchus, opened today, February 2,at The August Wilson Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you a sneak peek atAndy Karl, Mr. Groundhog and more below Be sure to check back later for full coverage...

On Story – Screenwriters and Filmakers on Their Iconic Films

Edited by Barbara Morgan and Maya Perez

247 pages, $20, University of Texas Press

The Austin Film Festival is a great place to watch films and hear from filmmakers as co-founder and Executive Director Barbara Morgan assembles a winning lineup of producers, directors, screenwriters, and performers to come talk about their craft.

Thankfully, Morgan and Maya Perez, producer of the Emmy-winning PBS series Austin Film Festival’s On-Story, have collected an assortment in a too-short collection, On Story – Screenwriters and Filmakers on Their Iconic Films. After a James Franco introduction, we get the best from the last 20 years’ worth of conversations in transcript form.

Among the highlights is the Conversation with Shane Black, David Milch, and Sydney Pollack, where the diverse filmmakers talk character, plot, structure, theme and favorite moments from across their careers.

Similarly, genre devotees will appreciate the focus on comic...

The mighty reign of Hamilton may soon be coming to an end, because Broadway has lined up a new production that features significantly more weather-predicting rodents, funny suicides, and Ned Ryersons than Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hip opus. According to Variety, the Groundhog Day musical that’s recently been delighting audiences in London will be making its U.S. debut in April when it premieres on Broadway at the August Wilson Theater. Before arriving in London, the Groundhog Day musical was actually in the works for several years and finally got its act together when Danny Rubin—who co-wrote the original Bill Murray-starring film with Harold Ramis—was brought on board to write the show’s book.

The production features a lot of the same creative team as the Matilda musical, and Variety expects that Andy Karl—who stars in the London version—will reprise his role as the Bill Murray...

A stage musical adaptation of Bill Murray‘s 1993 comedy “Groundhog Day” will open on Broadway this spring, producers announced Tuesday. The show, with music and lyrics by Australian composer Tim Minchin (“Matilda the Musical”), is scheduled to begin previews in March with an official night set for April 17, 2017 at the August Wilson Theatre — where “Jersey Boys” is scheduled to end its long run in January. Danny Rubin, who co-wrote the screenplay with the late Harold Ramis, collaborated with Minchin on the book for the musical, which had its world premiere last month at The Old Vic in London. Also...

John Moore Jul 27, 2016

Tim Minchin and Matthew Warchus reunite - after their success with Matilda - for Groundhog Day: The Musical. Our review...

You have to admire Tim Minchin’s confidence. Groundhog Day represents his second foray into creating musical theatre from much-loved stories. His previous attempt, also alongside director Matthew Warchus, was a rollicking take on Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Pleasingly, that was the kind of musical that unites adults and children in joy and admiration. It's peppered with at least three stone-cold classic songs - in Naughty, When I Grow Up and Revolting Children - melded to great dollops of pantomime humour, and shot through with the ink black fairy tale tone the original book’s author was so famous for.

Of course, fans of Minchin’s grandiose musical comedy will know his contradictory tendencies for self-deprecation and appearances in alongside a 90-odd piece orchestra. Much of...