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MTV schedules "Rocky Horror" make-overIn something akin to blasphemy, MTV is giving the green light to a project that remakes the cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. To say that RHPS, which debuted in 1975, helped generations of queer kids find their inner-sweet transvestite isn’t giving enough due.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has, for more than 30 years, allowed queer kids to ceremoniously gather at midnight with their simpatico straight buddies — some of them wearing fishnet stockings — and wave their freak flag high.
Before we hear the announcement of the inevitably disappointing new cast, we here at AfterEllen.com (OK, just me) have assembled a cast of our own from the AfterEllen.com Fantasy Players, an all LGBT thespian troupe. It wasn’t easy. I mean, who nowadays could do this?
Or this?
After several grueling meetings wherein we took each actor’s body of work into consideration, we came up with a cast. In the role of Brad: Neil Patrick Harris. Harris is excellent at playing a square and has no problem with every joke being at his expense. (See: Doogie Howser, M.D.; Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay). Also, Harris can appreciate the travails of a mad doctor (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog). Brad’s nerd-to-knock-out wife, Janet: Sarah Paulson. Paulson’s an actress used to playing someone too wholesome for her surroundings (See: Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip).
Their evil host, Dr. Frank–N-Furter: Alan Cumming. Cumming looks good in drag and he’s more than comfortable in the kinky sex on-screen department. (As seen on The Bacchae and The L Word, respectively.)
In the role of Riff Raff: David Hyde Pierce. Pierce has years of experience portraying the sensitive, volatile brother testing his sibling’s love. Though on Frasier, there was no incest. Riff Raff’s sister/lover Magenta: Heather Matarazzo. Can anyone play an unpopular misfit better than Matarazzo? (Welcome to the Dollhouse.) Also, Matarazzo doesn’t flinch from gratuitous violence (Hostel).
Their sidekick Columbia: Leisha Hailey. Hailey is musical (The Murmurs, Uh Huh Her) and not afraid to make her hair a funny color (All Over Me).
The Criminologist narrator: Nathan Lane. Lane is at home in crazy musicals. (See: the plot of The Producers.) In the role of Rocky, the doctor’s creation: T.R. Knight. Knight knows from being in an ensemble of self-absorbed people. (See: Grey’s Anatomy).
Finally, rowdy rebel Eddie: Jenny Shimizu. Does anyone look better on a motorcycle?
As you can see, we’re still brainstorming. We’re also still casting the “Time Warp” dancers so if you’ve got suggestions, have your people call ours. Or, better yet, leave a comment. Submitted by on July 28, 2008 - 1:00pm. |
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OH MY GOD. This actually
OH MY GOD. This actually made me kind of excited! TR Night as Rocky? PERFECT! It's even be okay that he's not blonde! And Alan Cumming as Frank-N-Furter. Wow.
Okay. Let's do it. Call up MTV and wip 'em into shape. This would be the best remake cast of any musical ever.
Also - Nathan Lane? Brilliant!
Good call.....
Snowgirl41
"Every person in the world has a purpose for being here—a calling".
hmmm ...
TR Knight as Rocky?? Sarah Paulson? I don't know if I can jump on that ... but ...
I CAN get behind David Hyde Pierce and Nathan Lane. Talk about letting the freak flag fly high! ;)
I am curious to know what Richard O'Brien thinks of this impending remake, however ...
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.
when i first saw the title
when i first saw the title of this post, i was pretty skeptical. i mean this is the ultimate cult classic. i have loved it since i first saw it so many years ago. i've always said that no one except tim curry could pull that off, but with the mention of alan cumming, it may be possible to change my opinion. i believe he may be the only other person that could do it.
not sure about sarah paulsen. but leisha hailey and heather matarazzo, definitely!
ALAN CUMMING
hmmm....sarah paulson would
hmmm....sarah paulson would have some impressive cups to fill in taking on the role of janet....i still have many a daydream about that white slip and bra. :)
but dude, i'm tempted to say that NPH would be better as dr. frankenfurter...i mean, THAT would be funny....
One up on MTV
I think AfterEllen should seriously be considering making this remake instead of MTV =D Brilliant casting.
Not happy about the remake!
I love the casting Afterellen.com offered though! I think with THAT cast, I'd definitely be the first in line to see this movie. But I know this movie will have a young, "hot" cast and be horrible, just like all these other 70/80's movies they've been remaking lately (Halloween, Prom Night, Omen, etc.)...Can't we just have our classic, older movies? Does everything have to be updated?
A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski
Letting my freak flag fly (hahaha)
Brad- Neil Patrick Harris (I think would work)
Janet- Sarah Paulson (I have no clue who she is)
Freddie- Alan Cumming (I was just telling a friend of mine today that this would work). Anyway Frank-N-Furter needs to be sexy.
Riff Raff- Richard O'Brian is the soul of Rocky Horror. . . I do not know a bout this one.
Rocky- almost any beef-cake guy will do. I have never seen T.R. Night in anything
Magenta- I see Heather Motarazzano as more of a Columbia. Magenta was a hot psychopath in the first one, someone needs to channel that. Maybe Helen Bonham Carter. The lead singer of Garbage has the look and the voice but I have no clue if she can act. Anyway Riff Raff and Magenta need to have chemistry.
Columbia- Hailey or Motarazzano work. According to the "Rocky Horror cult card" a friend made me, this is my character, so this character mustn't have its greatness lessened.
Heather "Motarazzano" lol :-)
Oh my god this sounds INCREDIBLE!!! Ladies of AE, we HAVE to make this happen before MTV can do unspeakable things to warp whole concept and purpose of what Rocky Horror is really about.
And I have to say- Heather Matarazzo is an INSPIRED choice for Magenta. I have to disagree with blooddrivendream about this one.... Heather has the right sort of creepiness/weirdness to really pack a punch in the role. She is also unsurpassable at inhabiting the most bizarre characters and bringing them totally and believably to life when she plays them. She can also rock the 'goth' look beautifully, with her dead white skin, long black hair and ice blue peepers. Her teeth would also lend the right amount of Hammer Horror to the proceedings (lol!)
Also, I the fact that she is a dyke is even better for this 'queer' remake. Helena Bonham Carter is straight, and doesn't sit right along with the other great queer co-stars.
And Mattsboy- I totally agree with you about Cheyenne Jackson being perfect for the role of Rocky. the only thing is, he'd have to dye his black hair platinum!
I'm all excited now- someone cast these actors and get this movie rolling now. It's a queer classic in the making, and I'd be first in line to see it!
I love T. R. Knight, but..............
oh no!!!!! This film absolutely must not be made unless Cheyenne Jackson is cast as the Monster. Not only does he sing gloriously, tower magnificently, and is also openly gay. Has anybody seen photos of him onstage in this role? Even though a blond wig does not really do justice to his smoldering, dark features, I offer this as evidence:
http://www.cheyennejackson.com/renderphotos.php?photocontent=rhs
The first photo on the left alone would obviate the need to see any other auditioners. With this, I rest my case. Any other casting would be a crime.
Blasphemy
Ahh..
Just use all the vloggers to remake it.
-----------
You're Everywhere to me.
!
ok, so i thought the casting was funny...hell, i'd watch it w/ that cast any day, lol...
especially because Sarah Paulson is like my dream girl!! lol
Amber Benson & Anthony Stewart Head RHPS Karaoke
Amber Benson & Anthony Stewart Head (Tara & Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) sang songs from Rocky Horror Picture Show on VH1 many years ago.
Amber Benson singing "Creature of the Night (Toucha-Toucha-Touch Me)" in her underwear:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Abci1bEim-k
Anthony Stewart Head singing "Planet Schmanet Janet" in drag:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lilv4d9Z7o8
He also did the stage play in London, and there are audio-only clips of him singing "Sweet Transvestite" on YouTube.
Amber Benson
Wow, I've never seen that!
Thanks for posting the link. I don't understand why Amber is not a mega star. She's got an enormous amount of talent, much more than 3/4 of the chicks who are household names. She can act, write, sing.
I almost cried when I first heard this.
AMAZING!
Just absolutely amazing! Now if only there was some way we could get them to take these suggestions to heart...
"It might make Elizabeth Hasselbeck cry, but we're gonna do it."
Blasphemy!
No-one could ever even begin to try to recapture the magic created all those years ago...
...but if they did, a queer remake would be absolutely perfect (although I love how the original had a way of making even the straight folk seem queer LOL). She's not an actress, but I think Sam Ronson would have to play Riff Raff. And someone with a smokin' bod would have to play Janet in all her bare glory ;-P
I'm actually really starting to get into the idea...I shiver in antici-- --pation!
"Of course I'm not wrong!"
Leisha
...Oh, and I think that Leisha Hailey would be perfect to play Little Nell!
"Of course I'm not wrong!"
blasphemy!!
im sorry i know ae is just having some good fun but this is wrong
you just dont mess with the classics!! i mean the rocky horror picture show is perfect and
still fabulous!
it would be like remaking titanic or brokeback mountain
{id include a (positively)themed lesbian movie of the same magnitude but i cant think of one =\}
great casting!