Studio planning 'Hairspray' sequel

Los Angeles -- New Line Cinema reportedly is planning a sequel to the movie musical "Hairspray," which was based on a U.S. stage musical, inspired by a non-musical film.

Variety.com said the movie studio has signed "Hairspray" creator John Waters to write an outline for a follow-up to the hit 2007 movie version, which starred John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer and Amanda Bynes.

Although director-choreographer Adam Shankman, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are set to return for the second outing, it is unclear who from the cast of the original film might return, since none of the actors had sequel options in their contracts, the entertainment industry trade paper said.

Variety.com said New Line hopes to get the original stars back, however and would like the second installment to be ready for release by Warner Bros. in summer 2010.

"I never thought of musicals as franchises but it certainly worked with 'High School Musical,' and the idea of working with that cast again, and creating new material and music, is a dream come true," Shankman told Daily Variety. "John (Waters) has such an original and extraordinary voice; we all can't wait to see what he has come up with."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.