What if Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell stuck with the Hairspray film?

[Fanadu_Xtreme]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 4:07am

I know they were originally supposed to direct and choreograph it, but then Jerry had Legally Blonde and Jack had Coast of Utopia.

If they had both stuck with the project how do you think it would have turned out? Who do you think would have made up the cast? The original Broadway cast?
Updated On: 8/11/07 at 04:07 AM

[mateo]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 4:29am

I think it would have been ok.

Neil Meron and Craig Zadan would still have their vision and probably gone with a big name for Edna. So that wouldn't change- although there would probably have been a bigger push for Harvey.


OBC? I don't know. I think Jack and Jerry would have realized that everyone would be too old for the big screen.

I think their vision would remain faithful to the stage production. I can't imagine them being able to look at the material in a new way, forgetting what they did on stage.

I think it would be a lil lighter and not as grounded in the '60's. May be even more 'Little Shop.'

The choreography would probably be just an enhanced version of the original choreography.

I think Adam had a very clear take on the movie. Jack and Jerry's version- I think it's safe to say would have been COMPLETELY different than the film made.

Not bad (I mean, we will never know)it could have been great- but definitely different.

[Fanadu_Xtreme]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 4:43am

Was there really even a push for Harvey at all?

I wonder if they would have remained faithful to the stage show or if they would have been willing to make cuts and changes.

[mateo]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 4:55am

I think inherently Jack and Jerry would have expanded what they created on stage.

Now Craig and Neil are all about reinvention - forgetting that the stage play ever happened. So they probably would have demanded that changes still be made.

But really im just guessing - Jack and Jerry may have had a brand new approach aside from the show- but it is still coming from their minds- and it is hard to recreate your own creation.


No Harvey was never considered- but my feeling is that Jack and Jerry are good friends with him so they may have pushed for his being cast a little more.

Updated On: 8/11/07 at 04:55 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:14am

I thought they couldn't find a studio to bite until Travolta signed on.

That's what Meron and Zadan said recently in an interview. They'd been shopping Hairspray around Hollywood, and there was some interest, but nothing actually happened until they got Travolta to sign on (which took a while), then New Line jumped in and they were "greenlit."

So, there might not have been a film of Hairspray, if they hadn't landed Travolta.

Unfortunately, in order to get the everyone's schedule cleared (once they'd cast Pfeiffer, Walken, Latifah, etc.), they had to push the production date out far enough that they lost O'Brien and Mitchell who had other prior commitments.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:26am

I thought O'Brien and Mitchell dropped out because they were pushing for co-director status and no studio wanted to pay for two directors.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:31am

Well, according to Zadan and Meron on Oprah, the movie's production pushed out too far for them to be involved. They both had other commitments.

I'm not saying it's true, but I am saying that's what they said on national TV.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:53am

Oh, I remember them saying that, too. I hope you don't think I was arguing what you said.

I just remember reading an article way back that said O'Brien wanted Mitchell as his co-director and the studios weren't buying it. And then the project seemed to remain in limbo for a few months before Shankman was brought on and then things seemed to get rolling.

From what I recall, Travolta was rumored for the part when O'Brien and Mitchell were still attached. But, it was a "he MAY play the part" kind of thing. It was a long while after then that he was confirmed.

Then, for a brief period, there were rumors that Rob Marshall was going to do it. But, that lasted for like a week.

I don't even know if it was hearsay or if Marshall was actually approached about it.

Posted: 8/11/07 at 11:29am

Well I'm happy Shankman got to do it...it's easily the best film he's directed so far. Although he still needs to learn how to film dance sequences better.

[BringBackBirdie]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 11:34am

Harvey said he was never asked!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 11:39am

It was reported in the trades when O'Brien and Mitchell were attatched to direct that they were pursuing Billy Crystal for Wilbur, Aretha Franklin for Motormouth, and Meryl Streep for Velma.

Now whether they merely wanted those stars or were actually in the process of casting them is unknown (Crystal and Franklin were said to actually be "in negotiations" when their names were leaked,) but those are a few of the people said to be up for the film at that time.

EDIT: Casting wise, Travolta was the project's sole constant. No one else was approached or considered for Edna as the production team knew the studio and investors wouldn't greenlight the movie if it didn't have a bankable star to topline it, though he didn't actually sign on until late in development.

Updated On: 8/11/07 at 11:39 AM

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 11:43am

I think they would have stuck with what they did onstage too much- think of Stroman and 'The Producers'.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 12:17pm

I agree with Enthusiast, I doubt it would be the big fat hit it is now. I'm not sure directing is Mitchell's strong point yet.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 1:47pm

I wasn't a big fan of the movie, so I might have liked it. You can never know, either director/choreographer (would have) had a good chance of making a turkey, or a classic.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 2:05pm

HAIRSPRAY would have turned into another Susan Stroman/THE PRODUCERS fiasco. They would have brought along the entire creative team over from the Broadway incarnation and this would have been a film-version of the stage show, which would have been one huge cartoon of a film.

The film needed 'new' blood and 'new' eyes to adapt it to the big screen. The well-received reception the film is getting speaks for itself. The creative team of this film basically started from scratch and worked around the songs to create the film we now have. Visually it is it's own creation -- it doesn't have to worry about any comparisons to the stage-version.

Also, Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell have no experience in the film realm. Adam Shankman does and knew how to adapt the show to film terms.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 1:45pm

Billy Crystal was, according to Marc Shaiman, planning to do the film but then backed out for undisclosed reasons.

John Travolta was the studio's ONLY choice for Edna. They essentially would not back the film unless Travolta committed to the project, as he was the only male star in Hollywood with a proven film musical track record.

After reading Shankman's online Hairspray diaries, I think Hayden Panatierre (sp?) would have ended up playing Amber had she not been committed to Heroes. I'm reading between the lines a little bit, but it sounds like Shankman favored her initially but then settled on Brittany Snow due to the scheduling conflict.

Updated On: 8/13/07 at 01:45 PM

[mateo]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 1:51pm

Brittany Snow, who I worked with on THE PACIFIER, is a favorite. She didn’t do exactly what I hoped she would in the auditions. I think she was just so nervous auditioning in front of me again because we are friends, but I have ultimate faith in her. I also found Hayden Panettiere interesting to play Amber, but I think she has a pilot called HEROES that is going to be picked up, so she is sort of knocked out of the race. I really want to go with Brittany. I know that she really wants to do this and I really have the most fun with her and I think in my heart of hearts that she is going to be perfect. -Shankman Diary


I then read later that she nailed her call-back, I think.

I think Brittany was a great choice. More of a victim caught in her mom's shadow - than a complete meangirl.

Updated On: 8/13/07 at 01:51 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 2:33pm

Did I miss something? Accoding to LoringsGuy, Brittany Murphy played Amber?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 2:38pm

I'm kind of glad the movie ended up in Shankman's hands. It was a wonderful adaptation, and I, too thought with O'Brien and Mitchell at the helm, it would have been very similar to what happened with The Producers. In this case, new blood was to the film's advantage.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 2:48pm

Regardless, it's not as good a film as John Water's original. I find it strange that Waters was better at filming dance numbers than Shankman!
Updated On: 8/13/07 at 02:48 PM

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 6:10pm

LOL....funny. I meant Brittany Snow!

I'll go back and edit my original post. Thanks, Brody!

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 6:28pm

JohnBoy2, and others, you all have to stop comparing it to the original. The original was and is a cult classic and this version was and always will be different. John Water's told O'Brien and Mitchell "make it your own" when they did the stage-version and he said the same thing to Shankman.

It is just the third way of telling this story that will never grow old.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 6:44pm

I sorta wish this third version would have had more character development for Penny, Amber, and Link. That was my biggest complaint of the otherwise very enjoyable film. Oh, and You Can't Stop the Beat didn't have the punch I thought it should have at the end until Travolta came.