Hairspray Creator Planning for Sequel

John Waters is working on a follow-up to the film musical version of Hairspray, Variety reported Thursday. Waters is planning to partner up with producer team Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, director and choreographer Adam Shankman, and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

The story is to continue in Baltimore in 1962, following the Turnblad family.

"I never thought of musicals as franchises, but it certainly worked with High School Musical, and the idea of working with that cast again, and creating new material and music, is a dream come true," Shankman told Variety. "John [Waters] has such an original and extraordinary voice; we all can't wait to see what he has come up with."

A cast has yet to be announced as none of the stars in the 2007 summer hit had sequel options in their contracts. The film is expected to be on screens by summer 2010. (The Advocate)