There seems to be a trend to remake classic musicals turned films into television productions, often live action shows,. We’ve seen this with Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, the upcoming The Wiz and now The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like the other recent remakes, this seems totally unnecessary and like a cash grab. Plus this is a show that fans have seen dozens of times and can quote from memory. Rocky Horror has a cult following that goes back 40 years. This is not a remake that fans will take lightly. The good news is that some casting has been announced and that Laverne Cox will star as Frank-N-Furter, played in the film version by Tim Curry. Here’s part of EW’s article on this:
[Laverne Cox] will play the sexually ambiguous Transylvanian mad scientist alien. The iconic role was previously immortalized by Tim Curry in the 1975 Rocky Horror midnight movie sensation, a film celebrating a record 40 years of theatrical distribution, a longer stretch than any other movie in history.
Fox’s two-hour television event will be directed, choreographed and executive produced by Kenny Ortega, with other executive producers including Lou Adler and Gail Berman…
Fox also just announced premiere plans for The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The film will debut next fall, 2016.
There are some concerns about how the production will handle the fact that Cox is transgender, not a transvestite like Frank, and although the lyrics use the terms interchangeably they are not the same. Cox is incredibly knowledgeable and well versed about these issues and she will probably ensure that it’s handled as tactfully as possible. She’s probably the best person they could have chosen for this role, and she’s definitely talented enough to pull it off. That said, I really don’t think this needs to be remade. This goes a remake too far in my opinion. I’ve only seen Rocky Horror about five times in theaters and I feel really protective of the original. It’s such rich campy perfection. This will probably be like the 2005 remake of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. There are stage versions of Rocky Horror and tribute performances, but do we really need one on television?
Photo credit: WENN.com
She’s beautiful and I think she could handle it well, but the remake itself baffles me. The movie was unsuccessful when it came out and it later gained a cult following. It’s so over the top with costumes and acting and (sometimes bad) singing that it holds a specific charm. How do you translate that into today? What do you keep and what do you cast away?
Exactly. The movie has a following because it struck a particular cord with certain people. This is a dumb idea and I get the feeling they are going to do this in a more sexy and less campy fashion and even if they try for camp it will fall flat.
If they had to do a musical remake I think an updated version of Kiss Me, Kate would go over well.
Yup. No problem with the casting…Definite problem with the remake.
It’s like trying to recapture lightning in a bottle. The charm, camp and ultimate cult status of the original was not based on any formula or structure. Sure the movie was going for a sort of gothic camp with many nods to 40s/50s cinema and social conventions – but it was also sci-fi and very much of it’s time (70s excesses). But it was the audiences that gave a whole new perspective to watching the film. How do you recreate something that over time, organically became what it is? How do you make it relevant today?
Funny enough, we just recently watched it (it was on FX or something). I was reminded of how hot and boss Tim Curry was. I’m not sure that performance ever needs to be replicated on film. He was fantastic.
Yes, some things only work because of the time period it came from and the culture that was around at the time of the making of that particular movie. I just don’t think this is going to work.
Yeah, that’s some TALL boots to fill!
I love Rocky Horror too, and Tim Curry as Frank N Furter (so oddly hot) especially, but I’m having a hard time seeing how they’re going to do this. A straight up copy? Why bother with that? Or re-vamping it? How, though? It’s a campy, excessive musical extravaganza crossed with B horror movie and a splash of soft core porn. The story barely hangs together even in the original film because it’s so ludicrous and strange. It worked because it was what it was, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a different time.
I could see them try to tell the story in a more straightforward way, but then you lose the magic and the fun. It’s quite a depressing story, really, so without the songs and the camp and the crazy you’re not left with much worth seeing.
mia girl, you are so right in your summation as to what the original movie was. I remember seeing it in 1975, and it was a revelation, so beautifully staged and performed. As you said, lightning in a bottle! It has been performed many, many times on stage with widely varying casts, male and female, but a new film version just seems like a monumental mistake, and completely unnecessary, if not down right disrespectful to the original. Tim Curry will never be bettered by any one, and Richard O’Brien’s performance was simply a tour de force. Leave well enough alone I say. No disrespect to Laverne Cox, she has a wonderful career in her future, and I love her on OITNB, but this part, no.
While I am curious as to how Laverne Cox will handle this role…I don’t think anyone could better Tim Curry in it. Same with whoever winds up playing Magenta and Riff Raff. I still listen to the Rocky Horror film soundtrack, I love those songs.
“I was reminded of how hot and boss Tim Curry was. I’m not sure that performance ever needs to be replicated on film.”
Me, too. And me, neither.
Are you kidding? RHPS was my high school daycare. My young friends and I became tolerant of all things via this informational vid. Haha. This needs no re-make because it’s so damn perfect IMO. However, it’s a celebration of all things polyamorous. The movie that needs re-making is Logan’s Run. Now that”s another msg more relevant now than ever.
Funny you should say that… http://variety.com/2015/film/news/logans-run-remake-warner-bros-simon-kinberg-1201545846/
I absolutely LOVE Laverne, but I don’t want her to be typecast soley to the realm of prison dramedies (albeit a good one) and the bizarre world of Rocky Horror. Granted, both star vehicles can be done well and one already is exceptional, but it would be great for a trans actor to also have a featured role in a rom-com or movie thriller where the individual simply works with the ensemble cast and not as some unicorn in a world of “normals.”
+1
This would be amazing. I would love to see Laverne doing female roles.
+2 I hope the producers are willing to listen to Laverne Cox and/or there are more transgendered people involved in the show. The only way I can see this being interestîng is if its presenting a more nuanced view of gender and sexuality than the orginal film. The campy energy of the first film is impossible to recreate. While I love Rocky Horror it’s totally a problematic fave due to the transphobia.
I would love to see Laverne Cox in a scifi, romcom, thriller etc where she’s the lead and presented as the norm. She’s such an amazing actress.
I hope to see the day where acceptance of transgender is the mainstream social norm and I don’t have to worry about my friends being hurt (emotionally & physically) by transphobia.
This is not meant to be a slight to Laverne in any way because she is talented and capable, but no.
No. no. no. no.
Tim Curry is, and always will be, the only Frank-N-Furter. I accept no remakes or replacements.
***temper tantrum over
Completely agree. Laverne is amazing, but no… we don’t need a remake of Rocky Horror and there is only one Frank-N-Furter.
Laverne’s been messing with her face from the looks of these pics. She doesn’t look as striking as usual.
Came to say the same thing
It’s probably wrong contouring. She’s wearing too much make-up in those pics.
This bothers me. She and her sexuality are not a joke or a punchline. But I agree that she will make certain things are changed to ensure that is reflected in the script. I trust her decisionmaking in that sense, so I’ll wait and see. Rather, I won’t see because I don’t care about the flick in any if it’s iterations.
Based on a video if I’ve seen of her singing, I’m going to say no.
That’s what I was wondering. We know she has the presence, but can she sing?? I’ve never heard her.
But is does not matter if she is transgender, the point is she is an ACTRESS suppose to be versatile and play any role.
Actually the point is the part is a MALE that likes to cross dress and is sexually predatory – the gender and male energy of the part is INTRINSIC TO THE CHARACTER…
I’m actually not convinced of this part. I think a bit of gender-bending is just fine for the role. What I’m more worried about is the inclusion of a vocal transgender advocate as a perverted sexual predator. While I can understand her desire to play the role (I mean, how much fun would that part be??), I’m concerned that it could actually be damaging to her off-screen work.
I’m a little bit baffled as to why she agreed to do this. She’s done so much to bring transgender issues to the forefront of a national conversation, and to show that being transgender doesn’t make you a freak or a weirdo. I LOVE Rocky Horror, but it is completely about how the Transexual, Transylvanians are freaks and weirdos. It seems like a mixed message at best.
As for the remake in general, I think I’m okay with it. It’s not actually a remake, per se. There are loads of stage adaptations of the play. Why not put one on TV? It will never replace the film version, but I don’t think it’s meant to.
I’m glad I’m not the only one to think this. The original movie is about freaks, and it’s awesome because it shows crossdressing in a fun and dark way.
I can’t imagine why would anybody want to show transgenderism as something bizarre or over the top.
“I LOVE Rocky Horror, but it is completely about how the Transexual, Transylvanians are freaks and weirdos. It seems like a mixed message at best.”
I get what you are saying here, but RHPS also has a huge message of accepting yourself and “Don’t Dream It, Be it”. Lots of out of place “freaks” found their home in Rocky Horror. Maybe that is part of why she wanted to do it? Transgender people are by no means “freaks”, but many have spent plenty of time feeling like they don’t fit in.
That said, I do think it is a little odd for her to take that role because Frank IS so over the top. She is an actress and should be able to play any part, but given her wok with / for the transgender community, this choice seems a little “complicated”.
I can see her doing a great job though. I haven’t heard her sing, but I can see her having the presence needed to play Frank.
Well, I know I’m oversimplifying it, but I think we’re both saying the same thing here… there is a complicated set of issues brought to the story by her participation, and the role has the potential to undermine the very important work she has been doing off-screen to promote the acceptance of a marginalized community if the production isn’t handled correctly. That said, it would be an absolute blast to play, so I can see why she would want to do it. It just seems problematic and I hope she has fully thought out the implications (I’m sure she has… she’s smart). I hope she rocks it!
I love her on OITNB, but this remake seems wholly unnecessary and can’t possibly go over well with audiences.
BBCA is currently airing a good live version of The Rocky Horror Show (the play in front of a live audience). I’m not sure we need yet another version.
Tim Curry is one of my all time favorite people.
Yeah, it’s all fun and games until they remake the princess bride with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper
lol
or Casablanca
if they must do a remake…
think she’ll rock it!
I can’t imagine why they’re remaking this. The whole point of cult movies is that they’re lightning in a bottle. Replicating them almost always goes badly, and it particularly doesn’t work if the original cult movie is still popular and widely viewed.
That being said, it probably still is a good idea for Laverne to take the role. I’d like to see her be able to branch out into playing a district attorney or a romantic comedy lead too, but a lead role in a Fox special is something that will give her a chance to show her acting chops to a broad audience, including some people who might not watch Orange is the New Black. Unless they really screw up and it ends up being offensive rather than merely unnecessary, I think it will help her career.
She looks different. Is it a nose job?
If this keeps up, we will have more and more piles of remakes of remakes. When the original is already good, why remake it? I didn’t particularly like Depp’s version of Willy Wonka, for instance, although I’m told it was actually more faithful to the book. It seemed dull and forced compared to the original. Except for the one guy playing all the Oompa Loompas. He was great.
Rocky Horror Picture Show as a remake? Oh, dear. Although Kenny Ortega does seem to have the magic touch.
“Although Kenny Ortega does seem to have the magic touch.”
Minus “Newsies,” of course.
I hate this!
She’s a woman!
No! Don’t like it.
Plus the whole thing is they are bad transvestite aliens, isn’t that something she would want to avoid? Is she going to have a fake hairy chest etc?
Odd and No
WTF? IS this a joke? If its not a joke, then this is quite possibly one of the worst ideas I have heard in a long time. Firstly, there is no need to remake RHPS for all of the great reasons already stated. Secondly, casting Laverne kind of completely misses the point. NO NO NO.
Ugh. No need for a remake.
Love her and she’d be awesome in it, but because you can doesn’t mean you should
I was incredibly late to the rocky horror party, and the first time I saw it was on stage here in Australia, with Craig mclachlan as frank-n-furter, and I absolutely loved it! Mostly due to Craig though, he made the role, was very masculine but feminine at the same time! I then finally watched the movie, which was great but paled in comparison to the stage show. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, you can’t remake a classic – I think whatever you see first will always be “it” for you. I also love Laverne cox and think she is amazing! But I don’t think she is the right person for the role! 🙁