Original director Jack O'Brien, who won a Tony for helming the exuberant 50s-set musical, was to have reprised his work in collaboration with original choreographer Jerry Mitchell but the two withdrew from the project after the start date for filming was moved to spring 2006 from fall 2005 (the film is set for a summer 2007 release now, rather than the originally-announced Christmas 2006). More recently, Rob Marshall, who received an Academy Award nod for directing Chicago and who co-directed and choreographed Sam Mendes' Tony Award-winning Cabaret revival as well, became attached to the film. However, he is no longer Hairspray's director, according to the trade paper. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago, the TV musicals The Music Man, Annie, Cinderella) are once again hunting for someone to direct the movie musical, which will be brought to the screen by New Line Cinema.
Hairspraytells of overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's ascent into love, happiness and stardom on a 60's
dance show, which she helps to racially integrate. The Broadway show
was itself based on John Waters' 1988 film. It opened in August of 2002
and garnered 8 Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Best Book of a Musical for Mark
O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Best Direction of a Musical forO'Brien, Best Actor in a Musical for Harvey Fierstein and Best Actress
in a Musical for Marissa Jaret Winokur. Casting for the film film has yet to be announced.
