Travolta Snubs Edna

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:48pm

John Travolta has refused to don the fat suit of Edna Turnblad for a second time in the upcoming sequel to 'Hairspray-The Movie'
He states that he doesn't believe in sequels to movies!!! and that he had done one and had had done it well but refuses to return with Edna.
My question is where would they go with a sequel? everything was neatly tied up at the close of the first movie.
www.wenn.com
Updated On: 10/27/08 at 02:48 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:53pm

there really shouldn't be a sequal to Hairspray anyway. I don't blame Travolta for refusing to do it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:56pm

"He states that he doesn't believe in sequels to movies!!!"

So "Look Who's Talking Too" and "Look Who's Talking Now" were special exceptions?

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:59pm

And didn't Stallone direct him in a Saturday Night Fever sequel called Staying Alive?

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:02pm

Wait... There's going to be a Hairspray sequel?.. Oh god, is this going to be a musical

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:02pm

A) There shouldn't be the a sequel (and the same for the Phantom

B) Fine! Cast Harvey or Michael instead!!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:02pm

"And didn't Stallone direct him in a Saturday Night Fever sequel called Staying Alive?"

That one too! And what about "Be Cool" the sequel to "Get Shorty"?

Updated On: 10/27/08 at 03:02 PM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:12pm

Travolta won't be back? GOOD!
His performance was the only thing bad about the movie Hairspray (which was excellent). Imagine how much better it would have been with a great actor in the part.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:12pm

Very nearly all the original team are back on board and John Waters is currently doing a treatment of the screenplay. The composers are onboard too, so yes, it looks like it will be a musical.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:13pm

Looking to open next Jul/ Aug.
Updated On: 10/27/08 at 03:13 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:37pm

The only film cast member I can see wanting to reprise her role is Nikki Blonsky. I don't think Zac would want to do another musical so soon. If they do decide to continue with this film, I hope they either have all cast members reprise their roles or have an entirely new cast take over so it's not considered "canon".

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:41pm

Set it a number of years later and let Harvey rightly take his part to the big screen as a slightly older Edna than we had from Travolta!

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:11pm

nm

Updated On: 10/27/08 at 04:11 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:11pm

He totally ruined the movie. Harvey should have been Edna anyway.

Updated On: 10/27/08 at 04:11 PM

[JP2]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:13pm

Well, no surprise here.

If they recast, should they go for something as drastic as Harvey? Or someone more similar?

Nikki is sure to come back, and Queen Latifah said she would come back.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:14pm

Musical sequels!
STOP!
'Annie 2'
'Bring Back Birdie'
'Grease 2'
and many others!

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:30pm

They will all come back, including Travolta, if they pay them enough. I like most of them, but it's not like any of them are actors who've displayed the utmost integrity and will only do projects they truly believe in.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:37pm

Musical sequels are amazing, especially if they're bad. Bring it on!

[Kad]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:39pm

I actually think out of all those aforementioned musical sequels, Hairspray has the best shot of having one that works.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:45pm

I actually don't see this being a film where a sequel would pack in the crowds. Most times, when sequels are made to films that crowds generally enjoyed but (a) seemed to wrap up all possible story strands, and (b) didn't achieve "blockbuster" status or cult legacies on DVD, they've generally flopped.

People liked Shankman's "Hairspray" but it by no means has a diehard fanbase or set the box office on fire. It passed $100 million and was somewhat profitable, but I see a sequel to it being one of those movies that people laugh at for existing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 5:02pm

"John Travolta has refused to don the fat suit of Edna Turnblad for a second time in the upcoming sequel to 'Hairspray-The Movie' "

thank the lord for small favors!

Travolting's the reason I walked out after 20 minutes.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 5:11pm

Not really bothered if Travolta doesn't return, as long as whoever replaces him does a great job.

I reckon if they get most of the originals to return, Zac would join because of the huge paycheck he'll no doubt receive.

I actually think a sequel would be good, depending on content of course. The setting is interesting and the fact it will probably deal with another 'issue' makes it more than just 'another musical'.

Plus, have to say in defense of musical sequels - just got back from High School Musical 3 and it was beyond better than the previous two, in fact I enjoyed it!

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 5:11pm

Not really bothered if Travolta doesn't return, as long as whoever replaces him does a great job.

I reckon if they get most of the originals to return, Zac would join because of the huge paycheck he'll no doubt receive.

I actually think a sequel would be good, depending on content of course. The setting is interesting and the fact it will probably deal with another 'issue' makes it more than just 'another musical'.

Plus, have to say in defense of musical sequels - just got back from High School Musical 3 and it was beyond better than the previous two, in fact I enjoyed it!

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 5:16pm

Don't give Travolta a hard time . . . it took something like 14 months for the creative team to bring him into the original project. From what we've been told by Marc in direct posts on this board, when Travolta was associated with the picture, financing came through. It wasn't looking like the film would have been made without him. I'm not a HUGE fan of his work in the movie, but I appreciate that the film was made and I REALLY like the overall final product.

Travolta may not believe in sequels . . . yes, he's done some, but MANY of them were early in his career and when he wasn't the box-office draw that he's become again. Who knows why he chose to do Hairspray . . . maybe he thought he'd get an Oscar and didn't, so he doesn't want to revisit it. Maybe the experience of playing a house-frau wasn't what he thought it would be . . . who knows.

There was so much crying about the LOOK of the film when we were catching daily stills of the costumes and sets, but the end product was beautiful! Many people who were crying before the release were happy after it was released.

Regarding the idea for a sequel, I wouldn't sell the creators short in what they will come up with. John Waters has a unique view of the world and is BRILLIANT . . . if you saw his tour last year, you know what I mean. Shaiman and Whitman have written some amazing songs.

More importantly, until there's a product out there (they are developing it) who can say what's going to work and what won't? Once there's a "finished" product to film, who knows what will happen . . . .

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 5:19pm

Oh i think the 'Look Who's Talking' sequels were right smack there at the top of his career.