I guess it was inevitable that This American Life’s successful fifteen-plus year run on NPR would eventually hit the big screen. According to Ira Glass, the host/creator of both the radio and television versions of the show, there was a great deal of reluctancy in fiddling with the already proven format. Luckily, they eventually gave TV a shot and have completed two critically acclaimed seasons on Showtime, quickly becoming one of my current favourite television shows (A close third behind Cops and Wheel of Fortune). So now that they’ve broken the ice, the logical next step is the big screen. This will definitely piss of the radio purists.

/Film reports that the screenwriters behind Joe Johnston’s upcoming Captain America film are set to adapt Wenceslas Square, a short story by Arthur Phillips that was first published in Wild East: Stories from the Last Frontier. Phillips read an abridged version of this on an episode of TAL (which you can listen to here) and has the honour of getting the big screen treatment under the new This American Life feature film banner. As some of you may know, this isn’t the first TAL story to make the jump to theatres. Paul Feig’s disappointing 2006 family comedy Unaccompanied Minors was adapted from a true story that originally aired on the radio program. I thought the resulting film was a little silly; especially considering the names attached. Maybe my hopes were too high?

I do find it strange that their choice for a first project comes from a short piece of fiction. I’ve always associated the radio program with top-notch non-fiction storytelling; which is what made the television show work. I think I’d be more interested in feature length non-fiction films rather than the adaptation of these stories into narrative features. But for now, I will reserve my judgment until something tangible hits the inter-web. In other related news, fans of the radio and television show will be pleased to hear that Ira Glass and company are doing another live theatrical broadcast. This time around, they’re bringing out the big guns. From Cinematical:

“Along with show regulars Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia, David Rakoff and Dave Hill, there’ll be a “special musical performance” by … I’m not making this up … Joss Whedon.”

The event takes place April 23 (US only. What about this Canadian’s life? LAME.) and tickets are available now. You can visit the official This American Life website for more details.