Waner Bros. announces Hairspray 2

When John Waters created the comedy film, Hairspray, he never imagined just how popular his movie would soon become one of the best Broadway musicals in history. 14 years later, Hairspray made it's Broadway debut in 2002. The musical would later be readapted into the motion picture business 5 years after a successful running. Now the hippest musical in history became Hollywood's fourth higgest grossing musical film in US cinema history, behind the other award winning film adaptions including Grease, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!

The musical was set in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, during the time of John F. Kennedy's presidency. Much of the 60's cultural references are shown throughout the motion picture. The film followed a "pleasantly plump" teenager named Tracy Turnblad as she simultaneously pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.

Opening to positive reviews, Hairspray met with financial success, it broke the record for biggest sales at opening weekend for a movie musical, which the film held until July 2008 when it was surpassed by Mamma Mia! and later High School Musical 3: Senior Year in October. USA Network has purchased the broadcast rights to Hairspray and will be scheduled to debut the film on cable television in February 2010.

But that's just the beginning ladies & gentleman. The big story is that Adam Shankman {director} & John Waters {original screenplay} are currently working on a sequel to the film. Now you're probably wondering, "How's that possible?" Due to Hairspray's financial success, New Line Cinema has asked John Waters to write a sequel to the film. Waters will reunite with director/choreographer Adam Shankman for the project, and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are set to compse the film's musical numbers.

As far as the story goes, this is what we know so far. The sequel will continue the story of Tracy Turnbladd, as she enters the late '60s era of music and the British Invasion. While no official casting has been announced, New Line states that they hope to "snag much of the original Hairspray cast." The sequel is tentatively set for a mid-July 2010 release by Warner Bros.

When the news was discussed, several students felt uneasy about a sequel to a high-grossed musical. On one hand, I understand their uneasy reaction. According to the list of high-grossed musical films, Grease once had a sequel based on the film. Set a year after the first movie, it followed the story of an exchange student who falls in love with a Pink Lady & makes enemies with the Greasers. Grease 2 received mostly negative reviews, especially from critics, because the show's horrible casting, terrible songs, and a confusing story. In fact, neither of the songs fit the 60s era & only a few members of the original cast were shown.

But on the other hand, Hairspray 2 may have a chance to do something Grease failed to accomplish. To create the best sequel to one of the best musicals in history. John Travolta , one of the actors rumored to return, if he comes back that he would dedicate his performance to his son, Jett Travolta, who passed away on January 2nd, 2009, while with his family on holiday in The Bahamas. John Waters guarantees, "That this sequel will be the best project he has made since his 1988 film debut."

So don't chang ethat channel folks because you'll be"shakin' and twistin'" to a rockin musical you'll want to watch again and again. The fun-family adaption to the musical hasn't failed before, so New Line Cinema hopes to carry on that successful tradition. But it's like the cast of Hairspray stated, "You can't stop the beat!"