Hairspray 2: No, I’m Not Making That Up

Surely John Travolta is just dying to get back into drag again.  

You know, when you think of movies that demand sequels, Hairspray isn’t one of the obvious choices. But think again–it didn’t cost a huge amount of money to make and it earned a decent amount. And that’s all that’s really needed for something to be deemed sequel-worthy, isn’t it?

So now Variety is reporting that New Line Cinema has re-signed pretty much the entire creative team for a second Hairspray film. Director-choreographer Adam Shankman and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will be back. Tony-winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will return to write new songs for the film.

John Waters will write a treatment for the film. A screenwriter will be brought in after Waters’ hands in his work. The general idea is that it will pick up where the original movie left off and continue the story of the Turnblad family. No cast is set and again, presumably won’t be until it’s decided who is needed.

Hairspray was set in 1962 so presumably they would be heading into the part of the 1960s that’s less cute and fun. You know, assassinations, civil rights struggles (the kind that go beyond the dance floor), Vietnam, long straight unhairsprayed hair. Hey, I know, why don’t they jump it ahead a few years and turn it into a story about a bunch of hippies dealing with sex, drugs, and the draft? Just drop the spray part from the title and I think you’ve got something. It could be called Hair. You know, a kind of tribal-love rock musical. Wait, what? That’s taken? Oops. Sorry.

Just for the heck of it, I’m guessing this will be the plot: Tracy is just mad about this new pop band from England. Now they’re coming to play a concert in New York and she and her friends will do anything to get there to see it! Much madcap misadventures and music ensue.

Oh, and John Waters–if this pops up as the plot of the movie, I’m going to demand restitution.