In a bold theatrical venture that promises to transform one of social media’s most notorious disasters into Broadway entertainment, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi and his wife, singer Rita Ora, have announced their production of a musical based on the infamous 2017 Fyre Festival fiasco.
The announcement came in early September 2025, accompanied by distinctive promotional events including a showcase in Brooklyn and the release of a 100-foot barge from Staten Island as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign.
The musical centers on convicted fraudster Billy McFarland, who orchestrated the catastrophic luxury festival that devolved into chaos and ultimately earned him a six-year prison sentence for wire fraud. McFarland served four years in prison before attempting unsuccessfully to revive the festival concept.
Bryan Buckley, known for films like “The Bronze” and “The Pirates of Somalia,” will direct, produce, and write the book for this stage production, marking his theatrical debut. Award-winning composer Paul Epworth has signed on to create the score, bringing substantial musical credibility to the project.
“This story combines everything bizarre and fun in the perfect setting for theatrical storytelling,” Waititi reportedly remarked about the production.
The “Thor: Ragnarok” director’s involvement, alongside Ora’s experience in music and television, creates a powerful cross-disciplinary creative team with significant commercial appeal.
The production aims to capture both the absurdity and spectacle of the original event through a comedic lens, exploring themes of deception, social media hype versus reality, and corporate malfeasance in the entertainment industry.
Producers have planned additional guerrilla art installations throughout New York City during the launch week to generate public interest.
While no official premiere date or Broadway venue has been confirmed, development continues with active audience engagement strategies.
The musical joins a growing trend of adapting contemporary scandals for the stage, potentially influencing future theatrical treatments of digital-era controversies.
The production team shared their enthusiasm for the project on Instagram posts, where both Waititi and Ora expressed excitement about bringing this notorious festival failure to theatrical life.
The creative team has launched pre-save campaigns for the soundtrack’s eventual release, building anticipation among music and theater fans alike.
The creative team is exploring sync deals with streaming platforms to further monetize the production through digital distribution once the stage run is complete.
