Debbie Allen to Join Dekker and More in 'Fame' Remake?

The Hollywood Reporter is stating that MGM has now cast most of the leads in the upcoming Fame remake. HR states, "Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle have joined the ensemble. Thomas Dekker ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") also is in negotiations to take one of the remaining leads. And Debbie Allen, who played Lydia in the original, is rumored to be in line for a cameo, though not as the same character."

As the Hollywood Reporter previously stated, Thomas Dekker is currently in talks to play the lead role of "Marco" in the remake of the 1990 musical. The film, adapted for the screen by Allison Burnett will be directed by Kevin Tancharoen. Filming will begin in February with a potential release date of September 25th, 2009.

Thomas Dekker plays the role of "Zach" on the television show "Heroes". He has also starred in "Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles", "Simple Joys", "My Sister's Keeper" and "Village of the Damned". His also was the voice of "Little Foot" in the popular children's animated film series "The Land Before Time." Dekker has recorded two albums "Psyanotic" and the upcoming "Protean".

Debbie Allen, Artist in Residence for over ten years at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., has created six original musicals with James Ingram, Arturo Sandoval and Diane Louie. Pepito's Story (1996), Brothers of the Knight (1997), Soul Possessed, Dreams (2000) Pearl 2001 and Dancing In the Wings (2005). In December 2006, Debbie Allen debuted her musical stage production, The Bayou Legend at the Glorya Kaufman Hall, UCLA.

Allen holds the distinction of having choreographed the Academy Awards a record ten times, six in consecutive years. Directed and choreographed for legendary artists Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Gwen Verdon, Lena Horne and Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few.

Allen received the Golden Globe for her role as "Lydia Grant" in the hit series, "Fame," A three time Emmy Award winner for Choreography , the series "Fame," and The Motown 25th Anniversary Special. 

Debbie Allen made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Purlie.  She created the role of Beneatha in the Tony Award winning musical Raisin, and in the 1979 definitive revival of West Side Story she received the prestigious Drama Desk Award, as well as her first Tony Award nomination.  Allen received her second Tony Award nomination in 1986 for her performance in the title role of Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity.  In 1988 Debbie went behind the scenes of the theatre to choreograph the new American musical Carrie with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

"Fame" was produced as a film in 1980. It centers around the story of a group of talented teens aspiring to get into a competivie public arts high school. It was later made into a reality show, television series and musical. The musical, which is what the new film is based off of, differs greatly from the original film and contains almost an entirely new score.