I have to thank my parents for introducing me to The Lost Boys as a child. The same people that let me watch Tales from the Crypt on weekends gave me my first taste of vampire life through that Joel Schumacher classic. You would think that sort of background would prime me to fear the fact that this horror-comedy touchstone is heading to Broadway next year. Being completely truthful, The Lost Boys: A New Musical did worry me for a moment; until I found out that talent like Patrick Wilson and Michael Arden were involved.

If there was any doubt in my mind that I need to see The Lost Boys: A New Musical, it was fully crushed at New York Comic Con. That’s thanks to a panel digging into the genesis of this project, set to start previews in March 2026, with both Wilson and Arden present – as well as several stars of the show. 

The Lost Boys: A New Musical Came From A Place Of Friendship

Moderated by Zachary Quinto, this was one of a handful of Broadway shows that paneled during 2025’s variant of this media convention, and his presence was a hint towards the spark that lit this fuse. A big reason this musical is even happening is the fact that Patrick Wilson and producing partners/friends from Carnegie Melon University James Carpinello and Marcus Chait, wanted to make it happen. (Quinto, a fellow alum of Carnegie Melon, was selected to moderate the panel to drive home the connection in a rather novel way.)

After an unsuccessful attempt to gain the rights to the picture that saw the youth of Santa Carla embracing the night, Wilson and company succeeded with a follow-up attempt. From that point, the creative engines were revving up, part of which saw a book by It’s Always Sunny’s David Hornsby and Chris Hoch adapting the story of the genre-bending 1987 picture we all know and love.

As for director Michael Arden, one of his big contributions to the project was suggesting indie rock group The Rescues take on the music writing duties. A fervent fan of their music before joining The Lost Boys, Maybe Happy Ending’s Tony winning director sold The Conjuring star turned producer by taking him to one of the band’s show in L.A.

Hearing two of the show’s songs myself, it’s kind of hard to imagine anyone else stepping in for The Lost Boys: A New Musical’s songwriting duties. Part of that is because of the creative energy behind both tracks we heard at the panel. Driving those melodies home, like a pleasing stake to our ears, was three members of the young cast, who also took part in NYCC’s panel of bloodsucking beats.

This Musical Take Has A Cast Of Young Broadway Stars Primed To Break Out

Also present for The Lost Boys: A New Musical panel were the young trio of stars playing the iconic lead roles of Michael, David, and Star. Respectively inhabited by LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui, and Maria Wirries, the actors in the show’s “love triumvirate” shared stories about auditioning on wires, digging into the source material, and why the ‘80s style needed to stay in the show. 

What’s more, this NYCC panel opened with Benet – making his Broadway debut in The Lost Boys – singing one of Michael’s early songs in the show “Belong To Someone.” Impressing the crowd with his vocals and stage presence, it was the perfect move to set the tone for selling us on why this musical should exist. The fun only continued as Bourzgui and Wirries showed off their own charisma on stage as well, through those tales that saw them preparing to become undead rock stars for 8 shows a week.

Unfortunately, that clip mentioned above isn’t available online. Every panel at New York Comic Con 2025, or any other year, has its fair share of treats you just had to be there to see. However, there was a special music video that was released earlier today that served as the panel’s big finish. Here’s “Have to Have You,” which boasts Ali Louis Bourzgui and Maria Wirries’ Star and David, showing off The Lost Boys’ titular characters in their new incarnation as a rock band: 

Putting a finer point on that angle, Patrick Wilson shared how he considered himself the most protective of Joel Schumacher’s legacy when producing this musical. Highlighting his work on the film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, The Conjuring star paid special attention to the legacy of The Lost Boys throughout the panel’s contents – and it showed. 

With a mix of die hards who saw Jason Patrick, Jami Gertz, and Kiefer Sutherland smolder on either the big screen or in their living rooms through the years present, this unveiling of further details for The Lost Boys: A New Musical won the crowd over. If you’re giving out posters for your panel and people are mobbing around the tables to get one, you know you’ve done your job well.

Seeing as how The Lost Boys: A New Musical kicks off its run in previews on March 27, 2026 at the Palace Theatre; with opening night slated for April 26th – the timing for such a win couldn’t have been better. Tickets are on sale now, so you may want to clear your schedule, and make sure that leather jacket is still in good condition. Should you need a little more of a tease to sweeten the deal, don’t worry. A three song LP titled “The Santa Carla Sessions” will be dropping this Halloween, ready to invite you further into its world of dark musical wonder. 

For more on Horror, make sure to check out Fright-A-Thon.

Keep Reading:

The 2025 Halloween Movie Marathon Schedule [Fright-A-Thon]