As a long-standing Rocky Horror Picture Show fan, I’ve had to think about whether I should invest in Fox’s upcoming reboot. Here’s what I’ve discovered.
Information about Fox’s reboot is sprinkled across the internet here and there, but it’s hard to pin down exactly what they’re trying to do with this project. Is it a 40th anniversary celebration? Is it a remake? Is it a TV movie or a live event a la NBC’s The Sound of Music and The Wiz?
The Rocky Horror reboot was announced back in April 2015. We don’t know much about it right now, but a variety of EW articles give us the most comprehensive look at what they’re planning.
We know the two-hour “TV event” will air in the fall of 2016. It was originally pitched as a celebration of the film’s 40-year theatrical distribution, the longest in movie history. However, considering it will now be airing in 2016 rather than 2015, there’s no word whether this is still the objective.
This reboot also doesn’t sound like it’s necessarily going to be a remake of the movie, but rather another filmic adaptation of the original stage play. It’ll be directed, choreographed and executive produced by Kenny Ortega, whose previous works include High School Musical, This Is It, and 2002’s Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Lou Adler and Gail Berman will also executive produce.
Laverne Cox has been cast as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and will be joined by Victoria Justice and Ryan McCartan as Janet and Brad. Reeve Carney plays Riff Raff while Staz Nair is Rocky and Adam Lambert is Eddie. Best of all, Tim Curry will also be joining the TV film as the criminologist narrator.
You can decide for yourself how you feel about the fact that they’re rebooting something that, frankly, doesn’t have to be rebooted. I’ve talked about this subject over and over and over again, and while I try to keep an open mind about remakes and delayed sequels, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by their sheer number.
For Rocky Horror in particular, part of the charm of the movie is that it’s a hot mess. It’s by no means perfect, but is insanely weird and has no problem celebrating that in every frame of the film. It’s a cult classic, and by definition that’s just not something you mess with. It’s terrible and wonderful because of the circumstances under which is was made, and when you try to recreate that, if often doesn’t go well.
That being said, I’m curious to see how they’ll be tackling this. Making this a reboot of the stage play rather than the movie allows them to differentiate themselves from the 1975 version of the story. They want to bring back to life the narrative without making it feel like they’re scrubbing out the old version and putting in a new one.
Besides, one of the most pervasive aspects of the Rocky Horror fandom is the fact that it’s performed worldwide by a variety of actors — professional and otherwise. The theatre experience lends itself to the idea that it’s being reinvented.
Ortega’s catalog of projects shows he’s able to create movie musicals and they’ll be popular to boot. He’s got the credentials, and with original Rocky Horror executive producer Lou Adler on board, the team behind this version is looking up.
And speaking of the team, the cast is going to make or break this movie. Laverne Cox as Fran-N-Furter is an inspired choice, and probably the most exciting one to boot. She’s an incredibly talented actor, and though hardcore fans will always complain she’s not Tim Curry enough, I think she has the potential to bring us another Frank-N-Furter we can fall in love with.
I’m a huge fan of Victoria Justice from her time on Eye Candy. She’s a solid actor and has some singing credits to her name, including an upcoming debut album. Ryan McCartan is an unknown for me, but he also seems to have some singing credits under his belt. Reeve Carney (Penny Dreadful) has those sharp features we’ve come to associate with the creepy Riff Raff, and makeup can certainly make him even more unsettling. Staz Nair is new to the scene, but one Google search proves he’s got the body for Rocky — which is pretty much all you need for that role. Adam Lambert has the soul of a rocker, and I honestly think he’s going to bring a big presence to this part. Tim Curry is Tim Curry and he’ll be spectacular no matter what.
The fact that we’ve gotten the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s excited seal of approval makes me feel so much better about this project. In addition, Lambert has talked about how this movie shaped his life and allowed him to feel comfortable celebrating his weirdness. As a trans woman of color, Cox’s oft-marginalized lifestyle surely has led her to deeply understand this weirdly fantastic role.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show means a lot of things to a lot of people. I’m hesitant to say I’m excited for this reboot because I’m so in love with the original’s terrible insanity. There’s something incredibly charming about the slapdash feel of the film, and so I find myself not as interested in a remake that won’t have that kind of underdog vibe to it.
On the other hand, we know next to nothing about the Rocky Horror reboot and there has been zero footage released. Until then, a lot of factors remain unknown. It’s probably best for everyone involved if we take a step back and wait until we see in which direction they’ll be taking the story.
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.