Marsden to Get Corny for “Hairspray” Film

By Andrew Gans
July 28, 2006

James Marsden, who can currently be seen as Richard White in the blockbuster film “Superman Returns,” has joined the cast for the upcoming film of the Tony-winning musical Hairspray.

Variety reports that the young actor will play Corny Collins in the Adam Shankman-directed motion picture. Marsden joins a cast that boasts John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Brittany Snow as Amber von Tussel, Elijah Kelly as Seaweed and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. Michelle Pfeiffer is also in final negotiations to play Velma von Tussel .

James Marsden has been seen on screen in “X-Men,” “X2,” “Zoolander,” “Sugar & Spice” and “Disturbing Behavior.” He will also be seen in the film “Enchanted,” which co-stars Tony winner Idina Menzel.

Filming for the New Line Cinema motion picture is set to begin in September in Canada. Featuring a screenplay by Leslie Dixon, “Hairspray” — with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman — is expected to hit movie theatres around the country Dec. 21, 2007.

Hairspray, based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name, currently plays the Neil Simon Theatre. The show won 2003 Tony Awards for Best Score (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), Best Book (Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell), Best Actress in a Musical (Marissa Jaret Winokur), Best Actor (Harvey Fierstein), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Dick Latessa), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.