Billy Crystal Cast Opposite John Travolta in Hairspray Film?

According to an "Entertainment Tonight" interview, Billy Crystal has signed on to play Wilbur Turnblad, the loving and less flamboyant husband of Edna Turnblad in the upcoming film version of Hairspray. There has been no official confirmation of the news as of yet.

John Travolta will play Edna and Queen Latifah will play Motormouth Maybelle in the film, which will be directed by Adam Shankman (The Pacifier, Bringing Down the House). It will be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, for their Zadan/Meron Productions, which previously executive produced the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago. A nationwide casting search is currently underway to find a newcomer to play the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the film, with production on Hairspray scheduled to begin this fall for a potential summer 2007 release.

Crystal's one-man show 700 Sundays was a Tony Award-winning hit on Broadway, and was also a success on tour. In addition to starring in such films as Analyze That, Analyze This, Monsters Inc., Deconstructing Harry, Hamlet, Forget Paris, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride, Crystal has been a top comedy writer for decades. In addition, he has penned such screenplays as Mr. Saturday Night and America's Sweethearts, and has hosted eight Academy Awards ceremonies (he also contributed material to several of them). The role of Wilbur Turnblad was originated on Broadway by Dick Latessa, currently starring in the hit Las Vegas production.

"From cult classic film to hit Broadway musical to major motion picture, Hairspray is a true New Line franchise," commented Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, New Line Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs.

Hairspray is originally based on the 1988 John Waters comedy about a teenager who finds stardom on a local Baltimore dance show--which she helps to racially integrate. The new version of the film will be based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film, which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will contribute new songs to their existing Tony Award-winning score. Shaiman will also serve as the film's music supervisor and will compose the music score for the film as well as produce its songs. Wittman and Shaiman will also serve as executive producers on the film. The new screenplay for Hairspray will be written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Toby Emmerich, New Line's president of production, is overseeing the project along with New Line's Executive VP of Production Mark Kaufman, and Creative Executives Michael Disco and Daryl Freimark.