The idea of a televised remake of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show was something everyone dreaded—after all, how do you remake something so iconic and of its time? Well producers certainly won a lot of goodwill from fans (or at least an “Ok, we’ll give it a chance”), when they cast Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank N. Furter, the mad scientist from “Transsexual Transylvania.” And now the production is casting the rest of the assorted Transylvanians, creatures, and hapless do-gooders for the remake.
Scheduled to air sometime in the fall on Fox—probably around Halloween time—Lou Adler-produced (and approved!) remake has cast actress and recording artist Victoria Justice (Victorious) and Ryan McCarten (Liv & Maddie, Heathers the Musical) as Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, the all-American couple who get pulled into Frank N. Furter’s web one night when they get a flat tire outside his castle. Actor and singer Staz Nair, set to appear in the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, will star in the title role of Rocky, Frank N. Furter’s hunky and gorgeous “creature.”
Most interesting of the new additions to the cast, though, is Reeve Carney, who many fans know as Dorian Gray on Showtime’s gothic series Penny Dreadful. Carney will be playing a far less glamorous role this time around, that of Riff Raff, Frank N. Furter’s hunchbacked butler. Still unannounced are important characters like Magenta, Columbia, Dr. Scott, and Eddie. Dr. Scott and Eddie are often played by the same person on stage, so it’ll be interesting to see if this new version goes that route. In fact, Laverne Cox’s Orange is the New Black co-star Lea DeLaria played Dr. Scott/Eddie in the 2000 Broadway revival of Rocky, getting her to reprise the role here would be amazing. Just puttin’ it out there.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which will not be another “live musical event” (thank goodness), will be directed by High School Musical’s Kenny Ortega and is set to air on Fox sometime this fall.
What do you think of the cast additions? Let us know in the comments below!
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IMAGE: Twentieth Century Fox
