In the Hood
Openly gay director Randal Kleiser, who helmed such homo faves as Grease and the semi-autobiographical It's My Party, is going to work on a real fairy tale. Kleiser has signed on to direct a movie musical adaptation of Red Riding Hood, the classic children's story about a plucky girl making her way through the forest to see her ailing grandmother, only to find herself matching wits with a hungry wolf. 'N Sync's Joey Fatone is playing the wolf, while his My Big Fat Greek Wedding co-star Lainie Kazan will portray grandma. Debi Mazar (Goodfellas) will play Red's mother, Brit hunk Henry Cavill is on board as the hunter, and Cassandra Peterson—whom you probably know as horror queen Elvira—is taking on the role of the hunter's wife. There's no word yet, though, on who will play the hooded one.
John Waters' Next Baby
Traci Lords and Iggy Pop on Broadway? Don't laugh. Anything could happen when casting for Cry-Baby gets underway. The musical version of John Waters' 1990 film, which starred Johnny Depp (as well as Traci and Iggy), is headed for Broadway, thanks to Hairspray's success. For those who missed the movie (and according to its box-office performance, that would be most of you), it's about a poor thug in love with a society girl, with class warfare replacing Hairspray's racial strife. Brian Grazer, the film's producer, will also produce the show, along with Hairspray producers Adam Epstein, Allan Gordon, and Elan McAllister. No composer or cast members are on board, but it sure would be fun to see the former porn star and the old-school punk rocker recreating their film roles and belting out rockabilly-based show tunes.
Fawcett and Gilbert Are Back in Hollywood
Trash TV is back, and this time it's not a new reality show. Jackie Collins, sister of actress Joan and noted author of such literary masterpieces as The Bitch and Lethal Seduction, is bringing her book Hollywood Wives: The New Generation to CBS. Collins is executive producing the TV-movie adaptation of the book, which stars '70s TV icons Farrah Fawcett and Melissa Gilbert as—you guessed it—Hollywood wives.
Fawcett plays Lissa Roman, a powerful star (think Julia Roberts) who hires a P.I. to spy on cheating husband number four. To spice things up, Fawcett has the 'dick' do a little private investigating of her, if you get my drift. Gilbert plays Fawcett's best friend, who is having an affair with a hot young screenwriter. Hollywood Wives slithered into production this summer.
Showboy Dances into Theaters
Already a hit at queer film fests and recently picked up by Here Films, Showboy is a mockumentary from Christian Taylor about a gay Hollywood TV writer who heads to Vegas to try his luck at dancing. Taylor is an out writer on HBO's Six Feet Under, and he created this feature while still working his day job. The story follows him as he's faux-fired from the series, takes ballet classes with adolescent girls, and then auditions for Siegfried and Roy. The flamboyant lion tamers appear as themselves (after all, who could play them?), as does Whoopi Goldberg. Taylor's boss, Six Feet Under's creator Alan Ball, served as the comedy's executive producer and also makes a voice cameo. Look for Showboy to bump and grind its way into theaters late this year or in early 2004.