Adam Shankman to
direct Hairspray

Gay filmmaker Adam Shankman will direct and choreograph New Line Cinema's movie musical Hairspray, being produced by out moguls Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. Hairspray, a 1988 John Waters film, was turned into a Tony-winning Broadway musical in 2002. The movie was to have been directed by Jerry Mitchell and Jack O'Brien; Mitchell choreographed the musical, and O'Brien won a Tony for directing it. After they dropped out, the studio entered into talks with Rob Marshall of Chicago fame, but he never committed.

Shankman, who directed such movies as Bringing Down the House and The Pacifier, got his start as a dance and physical comedy choreographer. He worked on such movies as The Flintstones, Boogie Nights, and Inspector Gadget. He also choreographed the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the opening credits of Friends.

Hairspray tells the story of an overweight teenager, Tracy Turnblad, whose dream is to dance on an American Bandstand-type show in 1962 Baltimore. Through her travails to get on the show, she racially integrates the town. No offers are out, but actors mentioned for roles in the film are John Travolta as Tracy's mom, Edna; Billy Crystal as Tracy's dad, Wilbur; Queen Latifah as black activist Motormouth Maybelle; and Meryl Streep as the television producer. (Borys Kit, via Reuters, with additional reporting by Advocate.com)