HAIRSPRAY Film Sequel Coming; Waters Writing Treatment

Variety reports that New Line Cinema has just made a deal with John Waters, Hairspray's creator to pen a treatment for a sequel to the hit film. Also set to return are director/choreographer Adam Shankman, the song-writing team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. 

None of the hit film's cast had sequel options, but the studio is said to be hopeful to reunite all of the original stars, with a target release date of mid-July 2010. Variety reports that the first film grossed over $200 million worldwide.

Hairspray starred Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Elijah Kelley as Seaweed and James Marsden as Corny Collins.

Produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who brought Chicago to the big screen as an Oscar-winning movie musical (amongst many other films), Hairspray was directed by Adam Shankman.  The film featured a screenplay by Leslie Dixon, who adapted it from Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell's original book, as well as a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.