2008 July 24 « Entertainment Today and Beyond

More HAIR SPRAY, BURTON gets his ALICE and 90210 spin off could be interesting!

Hair Spray

According to Variety, New Line Cinema and HAIRSPRAY Creator John Waters have struck a deal to move forward on a sequel to last year’s hit musical which starred John Travolta and the terrific new comer, Nikki Blansky. Director Adam Shankman, along with Tony winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will be back to head the creative team. Waters will come up with a storyline treatment which will center on the Turnblad family right where the last film left off in Baltimore of 1962. The trade also reports that while none of the original cast had sequel options Warner Bros hopes to get them all back. The studio is looking to get the finished product in theaters for a mid-July 2010 release. Personally I love the idea as I thought Hairspray was the best movie musical since GREASE back in 1978.

Mia Wasikowska

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Director Tim Burton has cast 18-year-old Australian actress, Mia Wasikowska, in his big budget live action version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND which will be produced by Disney. Wasikowska, a relatively unknown, can currently be seen on the HBO show “In Treatment.” The Alice in Wonderland story and Director Tim Burton seems, at least on paper, like a match made in Heaven. The trade is also reporting that Disney and Burton will shoot the film in a 3-D process.

The CW network is already heavily promoting its 90210 spin-off show that premieres this September 1st. I must say, I find the fact that they have signed original cast members Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling and Shannon Doherty to play a big part in the series very interesting although the show will focus more on a nucleus of young actors that will head up the cast. Actress Lori Loughlin (Summerland) will also be a big component of the new show. Personally I was a big fan of the original series and I really hope they can create something equal in quality. The success or failure of 90210 will be very important for the fledgling CW network as it hasn’t made much of an inroad in terms of ratings since its inception.

July 24, 2008 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | 90210, Adam Shankman, Alice in Wonderland, Hair Spray, Jennie Garth, John Travolta, Lori Loughlin, Marc Shaiman, Mia Wasikowska, Nikki Blansky, Scott Wittman, Shannon Doherty, Tori Spelling | Leave a Comment

ETB Radio and another release of STAR WARS – are you kidding?!

I want to thank all our ENTERTAINMENT TODAY AND BEYOND readers for their support of our new radio show. My co-host, Michael Cooper, and I have set a goal to develop the very best produced movie and television related broadcast possible and we know you will enjoy listening. A brand new show can be heard every week. Please spread the word and let us know what you want to TALK about!

Thoughts of the day – I have to say I’m a bit perplexed after seeing the story about George Lucas being gung ho about the possibility of re-releasing all six of his STAR WARS movies in the 3-D process. Please George – enough with the past! What fans really want to see is you pulling a real life Rocky Balboa, by giving us one last fight and creating something totally fresh that will blow us all away. Star Wars (the original 3) will always have its place in the hall of fame of cinema but that’s the past. If not Rocky Balboa, pull a Roy Hobbs and hit something totally new right out of the park. It’s hard to believe you don’t have it in you!