Fox Reimagining The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Not content with revitalizing “The X-Files,” Fox TV is taking on another iconic property: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which will air next fall as a two-hour “event.” They’ve already made a rather interesting casting choice as word broke today that transgender actress Laverne Cox will portray Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a role played so memorably in the original film by Tim Curry.
If you’re not in too much shock, read on for the details!
From the Press Release:
Emmy Award-nominated actress Laverne Cox (“Orange Is the New Black”) has been cast as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, which is set to air fall 2016 on FOX. The two-hour event is a reimagining of the cult classic, which is celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history. One of the most popular films of all time, it still plays in movie theaters around the world.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW follows sweethearts Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous flirtatious alien mad-scientist, is holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.
Laverne Cox is an Emmy Award-nominated actress who is best known for portraying the groundbreaking role of transgender inmate “Sophia Burset” on the hit series “Orange Is the New Black.” She is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. Her groundbreaking documentary, “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” won a Daytime Emmy Award and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Her next trans-themed documentary, “Free CeCe,” is scheduled for release in 2016.
Lou Adler (Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee) executive produced The Rocky Horror Picture Show for Twentieth Century Fox, which premiered on September 26, 1975, and is the longest-running movie in motion picture history. Adler met Gail Berman (TV, film, and Broadway producer) in 2004. Berman shared his passion and vision for the reimagined version of the 40-year-old cult-classic and, in 2014, they partnered to begin development.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is from Fox 21 Television Studios and The Jackal Group. Adler and Berman will serve as executive producers. Emmy Award winner Kenny Ortega (High School Musical franchise, This Is It, Descendants, Hocus Pocus, Newsies) will direct, choreograph, and executive produce.
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