"Hairspray" Star, Blonsky, Lines Up Next Film with Teen Comedy "Harold"

Nikki Blonsky — who plays Tracy Turnblad in the new "Hairspray" film — has been cast in the teen comedy "Harold," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ally Sheedy and Colin Quinn have also joined the cast that includes Spencer Breslin and Cuba Gooding Jr. T. Sean Shannon directs from a script he penned with Greg Fields.

"I read a bunch of scripts after 'Hairspray,' but this was really funny and had so much life in it," Blonsky told the publication. "I'm playing an outcast again, but not necessarily because of the whole 'plus size' thing. It's because my character marches to the beat of her own drummer."

Blonsky — who made her debut in the movie musical "Hairspray" — will play the nerdy best friend of the title teen (Breslin), who happens to be balding. Sheedy will play the mother of the boy who befriends the school janitor (Gooding, Jr.).

Filming has already begun on the project in Blonsky's hometown of Great Neck, NY. The film is slated for a 2008 release.

Sheedy, last seen Off-Broadway in The Triple Happiness, also appeared onstage as the first female star of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch as well as in The Exonerated and Advice From A Caterpillar. The actress is known for her film work in "The Breakfast Club," "St. Elmo's Fire," "Short Circuit," "High Art" and "War Games," among others.

I just posted this on your own earlier thread-

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=942316&id=3200808

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Yeah, no.

Just...no.

Poor Nikki. Lets home this is a good movie.

Oh man, I sincerely hope this movie will be good. But the actors named thus far make me nervous......

Um, have you seen his film choices since winning the Oscar?

Daddy Day Care II?

Need I say more?

oh you didn't even need to go that far- you could've stopped at Boat Trip. :) I seriously didn't realize that it was still considered to be a good thing to be in a film with Gooding Jr.

The better question is, did anyone think SNOW DOGS was good?

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Snow Dogs: The Musical!

Oh, Virgo, such a little innocent.

She said that she's received lots of scripts and she took this one because it seemed like it's the most fun.

This is called denial. She may have received "lots of scripts" but how many came with a firm offer? The rest is publicist-speak.


As far as what is she thinking? I'm thinking she might be thinking, I'm 18 and I'm building a resume outside of "Hairspray".

Who knows what she is really thinking, but it might be "I had better take the money while the iron is hot. No matter what."

What's the point in her waiting and waiting for another project?

She might want to wait until the Hairspray press juggernaut has a chance to work it's magic. With the sort of reviews she is getting and the great BO it would not be long before some major offers would come her way and she wouldn't have to settle for what looks like the next direct to DVD comedy that will be in the bargain bins in a month.

This move will be shot and over and she'll be working on her third and her resume will be that much more longer.

You know some actors have resumes longer than Meryl Streeps that couldn't get cast in a bus and truck of Cats. It is what is ON the resume not how long it is.

I wish her the best of luck and hope she does the smart thing.

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