As previously reported by Playbill.com, "Hairspray" screenwriter and creator John Waters submitted a treatment for the sequel to New Line Cinema in 2008. Shaiman told Playbill.com, "Scott and I and the movie team gathered a lot of really fun ideas in the two (wow, two!) meetings we had, but that was as far as that went. It was never something that needed to be 'announced' for it was always a 'what if' scenario." Adam Shankman, who directed the movie musical adaptation of Hairspray and was attached to direct the possible sequel, told the UK Press Association in Hollywood that the film was off, commenting, "I'm going to kill that rumor now, that got killed."

Shaiman also told Playbill, "Quite some time ago, New Line decided not to pursue it and so all the great ideas will have to remain locked away. But they were fun!"

In the meantime, Shaiman and partner Scott Wittman are busy with their Broadway-aimed musical Catch Me If You Can, which will bow in New York in spring 2011. The duo is also at work on penning a stage adaptation of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."