Hairspray casting news

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:35pm

From Perezhilton.com(granted its a gossip site but it was an interview with Bynes so...)
Amanda Bynes is set to play Penny.

"The former sitcom star is making the leap to the big screen in style. Hot off the success of her Dreamworks flick She's The Man, Miz Bynes tells us that she JUST signed on to play Tracy Turnblad's best friend in the big screen adaptation of Hairspray the musical.

John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer will round out the cast."

http://www.perezhilton.com/?page=1

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:40pm

......................My soul just died a little.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:40pm

God, I hope she can sing.

Otherwise, I have no strong objection to this. I'm not thrilled...but it could have been a lot worse.

At least the casting directors are making smart marketability choices. This cast may turn out to be quite surprising.

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 05:40 PM

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:41pm

wish it was tracy miller.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:47pm

I actually can see her as Penny (assuming she can sing), and I am not a Bynes fan at all. She is pretty good at character acting, and Penny is such a caricature that she should be able to pull it off in a very funny way.
-BJH

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:47pm

Queen Latifa is going to be Motormouth, and she is great.

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 05:47 PM

[exedore]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:49pm

Does anybody know when they're going to start posting information about signing up to be an extra? I live in Baltimore and would love to have a chance to be near this project, even if it's just as somebody walking down the street in the background.

[30/90 Playout]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:49pm

SO far I am not trusting a site that refers to her as "Miz Bynes". I really wish they could have Diana DeGarmo play this. She is a name because of American Idol and got good reviews playing the character in her originally Broadway stint.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:53pm

The casting search on this film has been EXHAUSTIVE; I hope all the roles are cast with names because frankly, the film needs all the star power it can get. That said, I'm sure Amanda Bynes had an extensive singing audition before landing the part.

[thejcm]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 5:59pm

I think Amanda Bynes is hilarious and I'm not afraid to admit it. Even though I'm doubtful of her singing abilities, I'm not a bit sad about it in the acting department.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:03pm

Shoot me now, please.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:05pm

I really, really hope she can sing.

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:07pm

i like her. what a girl wants was cute.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:12pm

Queen Latifa is going to be Motormouth

We already knew that one.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:18pm

I hated her in All That, the Amanda Show, Big Fat Liar, and What I Like About You.
But I liked What a Girl Wants.

I think she can pull off good material - she just hasn't had the opportunity to show that.
(Also, she went to my high school.)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:20pm

I suppose now that it's settled -- they're trying to fix the mistakes that Rent and The Producers made. Nobody knew the original cast of Rent, and they couldn't advertise that. The Producers tried to fix that with Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman, but to no avail. Now it's all out celebrity-casting for the adults (and only one of the four teens). I don't think it's a bad decision; I just hope they play these parts well!

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:26pm

Maybe we will be surprised. I can see Amanda playing a goofy role. I mean, I think she did on the Amanda Show as well. However, this is the movies.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:35pm

So far, all this casting is very predictable. No one is stepping out of any box - but perhaps that's what's needed to sell it.

[mateo]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:35pm

Ive been hearing this for awhile now. I have a good feeling this came right from her mouth to Perez' ears.

I am sure she had a huge audition process.. however, on Rove Live and australian talk show she said she can sing but not that well... but she might have just been acting modest. If you want to see that interview you can find it on the "Tube of You."

Rove says she has a music career, which she says "no I dont!" he says "you dont, you must have done a bit of singing?"
Amanda says, "No, I'm not that good." <- thats the jist of the singing convo.




but the vocal direction is being done by Elaine Overholt who did the movie Chicago - and she can get people to sing!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:37pm

well, as everyone else has said...hope she can sing alright!

but who is Michelle Pfeiffer playing? sorry, i never heard about her being cast...

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:39pm

Kill me now, please. Amanda Bynes is a hyperactive freak. Here's hoping she doesn't screw up.

and bwayondabrain, I think Michelle is set to play Velma

[mateo]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:42pm

Penny is a hyperactive freak/spaz however you want to say it. It think she'll do fine.



how many people went.. "rennee zellwegger! caterine zeta jones! can they even sing!?"

actors, when musicals are involved can always suprise us.. since most of them got their start doing school plays and musicals.

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 06:42 PM

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:47pm

Yeah but Amanda Bynes got her start being the overly hyperactive weird-o on crappy TV shows. And Penny is not really hyperactive she is more sheltered and naive. Or at least that's what I took from Kerry Butler's performance as well as Leslie Ann Power's character interpretations.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:48pm

She's so quirky, this role will suit her well.

[UhmYeah]

Posted: 6/4/06 at 6:49pm

Hey all. Does any one know if they found their Tracy? Or when they might make that announcement. I am so excited to hear who it is after all of this!

Thanks so much!