With NBC's "Grease: You're The One That I Want weeks away from its debut, American Idol producer Simon Cowell has announced he will similarly cast the leads for a West End production of that fifties-friendly musical.

Cowell's production company, Syco TV, will co-produce the show slated to air on ITV. The stage production is scheduled to hit the West End in summer 2007.

Producer David Ian — who will appear as a judge on "Grease: You're The One That I Want" — has also been lined up to appear as the lead judge on the new ITV show. The impresario will also produce the stage show with Paul Nicholas and TalkbackThames.

ITV and Cowell secured the stage rights for Grease for a London West End run. The show will witness auditioners competing for the leads of Sandy and Danny in the forthcoming production.

Who knows, if an American Idol singer from season six doesn't win it all this year, maybe he/she now has a back up plan ...

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.