New Line Cinema has set Adam Shankman to direct and choreograph "Hairspray," the screen adaptation of the Broadway musical. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are producing....
Tinyurl? Please? Or use the "Optional Link" field when posting. It's just that these long urls totally mess up my browser window every time.
Anyway, Shankman's resume isn't exactly glittering (Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigelow?), but since he was just the choreographer on most of those projects it's best to wait and see here.
Please PLEASE dont have Jon Travolta as Edna .. WHY Harvey WHY!
New Line Cinema has set Adam Shankman to direct and choreograph "Hairspray," the screen adaptation of the Broadway musical. Craig ZadanCraig Zadan and Neil MeronNeil Meron are producing. Shankman, who's finishing the holiday opener "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" for Fox, will begin working immediately with screenwriter Leslie DixonLeslie Dixon and lyricist-composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning team that wrote the "Hairspray" score. Production will begin early next year in Baltimore, for a summer 2007 release.
Casting will now begin in earnest. John TravoltaJohn Travolta is expected to play Edna Turnblad, the role Harvey Fierstein originated onstage. The involvement of Shankman, who directed "Bringing Down the House," makes Queen Latifah an instant front-runner for the role of Motormouth Maybelle.
Shankman fills a vacancy created when original choreographer Jerry Mitchell and stage director Jack O'Brien bowed out as the pic's co-directors (Daily Variety, June 21, 2005). Zadan and Meron then offered the job to their "Chicago""Chicago" director Rob MarshallRob Marshall, who once planned to choreograph and direct the stage version of "Hairspray" before he took the "Chicago" job. He declined to do the "Hairspray" movie.
Since then, the studio and producers took Dixon's script to talent agencies for suggestions. They interviewed 15 filmmakers wanting the job before choosing Shankman. His qualifications go beyond his commercial success as a director, and the fact that Dixon wrote "Bringing Down the House."
"I have worked with Marc and Scott on a variety of projects over 15 years, and the idea we get to work on the mother of all their projects, I consider it a great leap of faith in me," Shankman said.
Though best known for comedies, Shankman trained as a dancer at Juilliard, and danced in videos of Janet JacksonJanet Jackson and Paula Abdul before becoming a prolific choreographer on nonmusical films. His efforts included helping Brendan FraserBrendan Fraser move like an ape in "George of the Jungle""George Of The Jungle" and assisting the cast of "The Flintstones."
"It is rare to find a director who can speak the language of musicals," Meron said. "He lives and breathes this language."
"He'll be a talent magnet for cast," Zadan added.
The choice of Shankman passed muster with studio toppers Bob Shaye, who produced the original John WatersJohn Waters-directed film, co-chairman Michael Lynne and production president Toby EmmerichToby Emmerich, who made the deal.
New Line's Mark KaufmanMark Kaufman, Michael Disco and Daryl Friemark are overseeing the pic with Travis Knox.
And somehow I suspect that Mandy Moore might get involved. After all she is trying to do musicals, and he gave her her first big acting break in A WAlk To Remember. Then again she would make an awesome Amber (She pretty much WAS Amber in Saved!).
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
Harvey won the Tony for Edna! He really deserves to be cast in the role. Does anyone know if they are even considering him? I know they want big names, but John Travolta? Hopefully if Rent does well the producers will see that musicals can still do well with the original cast members. However, I am also up for a brand new, undiscovered Tracy. And Queen Latifah I MIGHT be able to live with....we'll have to see.
***It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
-- William Shakespeare***
no. not my beloved new line. the wonderful company who produced the lord of the rings has turned to.. hairspray!? WHY WHY!? this is a time where we should be convincing the general population that broadway isn't cutesy, corny crap.
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
I'm all up for an unknown as Traci just like the original film and the musical did. However, please please get Fierstein to do Edna! You would think Wittman and Shairman had a say in this, Fierstein is Edna! Get big names for the supporting cast, plus in my book Harvey Fierstein is a big name!
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
The chosen director is a good choice. He is really a hired gun for the producers and the composers. As for the casting of Travolta, he could probably do it. His drag performance as Barbra Striesand on SNL (or at least I think it was SNL) was truly inspired and hysterical. I do think it should be Harvey's gig though. John goodman is a very good 2nd choice. As for Motormouth Mabel it should be given to the one and only ARETHA FRANKLIN, imagine her singing those songs - pure heaven.
Queen Latifah is a little too young though, and I have a gut feeling Steve Martin's going to be cast(along with Mandy Moore, who'd make an awesome Amber and a weak Penny)
But Travoltas as Edna isn't such a tragedy, the guy is funny as hell in drag(seen in snl reruns) and has been in musicals, Fiernstein is still my first choice for the role but I won't be bawling out if John gets casted instead(this is hollywood here and he's an A lister)
Now Kelly Osbourne as Tracey-that's a tragedy, and that would get me bawling out
Just as long as Tracey is played by Marrissa or an unknown, that's what really matters the most
PLEASE. Marissa can't play 16 ON FILM. She could hardly play 16 on stage. They're going to have to find a new star to do it.
Travolta would be great. Goodman would be a good choice for the stage version.
Latiffah is too young. I would want Patti LaBelle before Aretha. She's a lot more sassy than Aretha. I'm still for Billy Crystal as Wilbur. Mandy would be fine as Amber. I wouldn't be surprised if Allison Hannigan ended up as Penny (that is, if she can sing).
Actually I don't get the Travolta hate. Harvey has no claim over the role of Edna. Other then "RENT", Broadway rarely if ever hires the (lead) Broadway actors to reprise their role in the film (though cameos and supporting roles do happen). If the movie is to be successful we need a *name* to be Edna. Travolta is that. Fierstien just cannot compete name wise, outside of Broadway.
We should be talking about is what minor role could Harvey be offered in the movie.
She certainly is "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" 
