04-05-2004, 01:26 PM
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 9,327
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From Movie to Stage back to Movie: New Line's "Hairspray"
From a New Line press release:
Sixteen years after the release of the original film, the musical comedy Hairspray will find new life on the big screen (at its original home of New Line Cinema) via a new film version of the award-winning Broadway smash based on John Waters' original cult classic.
In a first of its kind, the studio will produce a new incarnation of a property that originated at New Line before going on to phenomenal success and 9 Tony Awards on Broadway - John Waters' 1988 comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The new film will be based on the Broadway play, which was produced by Margo Lion and co-produced by New Line.
The award-winning writers behind the Broadway show will all be involved in this film version. In addition to being the movie's music supervisor, Marc Shaiman (music and co-lyricist) will compose the score for the film as well as produce its songs. Co-lyricist Scott Wittman and Shaiman will also be the film's executive producers. The play's book writers, Thomas Meehan & Mark O'Donnell, are set to adapt the screenplay. New Line Cinema's President of Production, Toby Emmerich, and Mark Kaufman, Senior Vice President of Production, will oversee the project for the studio.
"I couldn't think of a better way to continue the life of this fantastic musical," said the studio's Co-Chairman/Co-CEO Bob Shaye. "Hairspray is an irresistible story - on film, on stage, and now on film again. In each form it takes, Hairspray is an expression of the power and universality of John's original vision."
Added Michael Lynne, also Co-Chairman/Co-CEO of New Line, "The tremendous success of the Broadway show convinced us that audiences really want to experience it on a broader canvas. Clearly, the story, music and terrific songs by Marc and Scott, connect with people everywhere."
John Waters, who wrote and directed the original film, has a long partnership with New Line Cinema, which distributed such Waters fare as Multiple Maniacs and Polyester. New Line currently has Waters' latest film, A Dirty Shame, on its 2004 slate. The studio produced his 1988 film Hairspray. The film was launched as a musical comedy on Broadway in August 2002 to rave reviews and sold-out shows. |
Unless I missed it, this release doesn't mention whether or not John Waters will be directing. Seems unlikely. |
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