L-R: Ivy Levan, Tim Curry, Adam Lambert, Annaleigh Ashford, Staz Nair, Laverne Cox, Ryan McCartan, Victoria Justice, Christina Milian, Reeve Carney and Ben Vereen in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN premiering Thursday, Oct. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Miranda Penn Turin/FOX
The cast of the FOX musical production The Rocky Horror Picture Show assembled at the Television Critics Association fall previews for FOX on Monday and answered reporters questions.
American Idol star, Adam Lambert was not in attendance, but fellow cast members Ivy Levan, Staz Nair, Annaleigh Ashford, Ben Vereen, Christina Milian, Reeve Carney, Ryan McCartan, Victoria Justice and Tim Curry sat on the panel along with the production team.
Here are the details you need to know, via TVGuide:
Interestingly, the production will pull the camera back to incorporate a theater audience responding to the production, like back in the days when Rocky Horror was an interactive movie experience:
The callbacks that make Rocky Horror such a cult classic will be incorporated into the Fox film via a theater audience of fans that touches back to the action of the story. The concept was integrated into the revival from the very start, according to executive producer Lou Adler. “It was there from the beginning,” he said. “We wanted to celebrate the fans with the departure.”
There will be no live singing:
Every actor in the new Rocky Horror sings every note their character sings on screen, but the movie wasn’t filmed with live singing. Director Kenny Ortega says it was to save time in editing, but he promises there’s still some magic of a live performance. “We never knew what was going to happen on any given day,” he said. “For all that we rehearsed, there was still so much spontaneity.”
Original Frank-n-Furter, Tim Curry, is all in.
Curry has a role in the revival as the Narrator, but it’s not the one he originally wanted. He quipped that he originally offered to play Dr. Everett Scott because “I’m already in a wheelchair.” The actor had a stroke in 2012.
Laverne Cox may be overqualified to play Frank-N-Furter:
It’s hard to imagine anyone filling Curry’s iconic high heels, but Ortega is adamant that Laverne Cox is a force to be reckoned in the revival. “She’s a force, a five-octave range, a degree in dance from a major university, acting her heart out in New York and studying for over 15 years, walking into the room and making us all realize there was no B plan,” he said. “She had so much to give to it: a life experience, a depth of talent, an enthusiasm and an incredible respect for this film. She was just an absolute joy. We knew it from the beginning that this person that gave us a reason to make this movie, again.”
Was Laverne’s casting as Frank-N-Furter due to her being transgender?
Dr. Frank-N-Furter, producers stressed that the character is an alien, not a transvestite, and to add such labels is missing the entire point of Rocky Horror. “Tim is not a transvestite, and nor is Laverne. They are both incredible, iconic actors that have achieved an incredible amount beyond these roles in their careers,” Ortega explained. “That’s really what we were looking for. We were looking for the right actor that could breathe life and fun into this, to liberate this character and play with the transformation of this wonderful story.”
Also, check out a charming interview with Tim Curry via The Hollywood Reporter. When asked if he gave the production his blessing he answered, “I do indeed.”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show premieres Oct. 20 at 8/7c on Fox.
New promo features lots of Adam Lambert as Eddie, including a snip of his song “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul.”
https://youtu.be/btL-tQYLELs
