New Line Cinema has made pay-or-play deals with John Travolta and Queen Latifah to star in the Adam Shankman-directed musical film adaptation of "Hairspary", which will begin production in Baltimore and Toronto in September reports Variety.
Travolta plays downtrodden housewife Edna Turnblad, Latifah is civil rights activist and dance show host Motormouth Maybelle. A nationwide search is on to find a fresh face for Tracy Turnblad, the chubby teen played by Ricki Lake in John Waters' original film and by Marissa Jaret Winokur in the Tony-winning stage musical.
Travolta is still eager to play the role of J.R. Ewing in the "Dallas" film adaptation, but that film will have to be pushed back if "Hairspary" goes as planned. Shankman, who is also choreographing, will begin rehearsals in the summer. Film is set for a Summer 2007 release.
