HAIRSPRAY
Following the success of the hit movie musical Hairspray, based on the smash stage show of the same name, New Line Cinema has asked John Waters – the man behind the original non-musical film that inspired both of these hits – to pen a sequel. Neil Meron and Craig Zadan would return as producers, as would director-choreographer Adam Shankman and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who would provide a brand new score for the sequel. No casting has been announced, although New Line hopes to gather as many of the original film’s stars together for round 2.
A very wise and handsome man once said: “Every generation needs its Grease 2.” Watch this space for news as it comes, folks…
Musical Cyberspace 
OK, said idea/dream is created and is presented to the public, and is rejected. Failure as you described.
OK, said idea/dream not fully realized to the entrepreneur’s/artist’s satisfaction, and yet it is embraced by the public. Success as you described.
According to this, then, the motivation behind Hairspray II is irrelevant to you, since you measure success in money exclusively anyway.
I have no idea what you mean. Would you regard both hypothetical scenarios successful? Only the financial one? Only the aesthetic one?
Sure – in a way. If Waters dashes off something that turns out well on screen despite lacking his personal artistic passion, what do I care? As long as it is entertaining. But, I’m going with the likelihood that if he is doing it for the money rather than some artistic expression, it will turn out bad; reflect badly on the original musical Hairspray; and damage the reputation that the musical film genre is viable. I really want to see a string of successful musicals. I was worried about how badly The Producers and Rent did at the box office so I was relieved at Hairspray‘s success (plus its critical success didn’t hurt either). Hairspray‘s success is fueling the Hairspray sequel and perhaps is giving confidence to producing films for Wicked and a remake of JCS. Films are not going away but the musical’s future depends on the box office. I believe good shows have to be artistic but not too artistic.
What I’m trying to figure out here, is why you think artistic expression has anything to do with financial success at all.
I think artistic expression has emotion wrapped up in it and that makes it more entertaining for the audience, hence they want to pay money to see it. But in this case, just as bad directing and bad acting can ruin good material, perhaps good directing and acting can cover up poor material. I just think it’s a good idea to start with good material inspired by the writer’s “need” to write it rather than a studio suggesting a topic. Still, I won’t suggest that Hairspray II won’t work.
There are times when sequels to the first of any given movie(s) have been made that’ve turned out equally good, or better than the first, and yet, it’s also true that sometimes, as in the case of Superman or Spiderman, that they’ve gone overboard and made other sequels, when they should’ve stuck with one sequel and left it at that. Lord of the Rings is an exception, due to the books that that series is based on. It’s also true, however, that most sequels and remakes are a total fiasco, in my honest opinion.
I saw the original movie Hairspray, which I though was OK. However, the sequel to this one sounds positively awful!
OH GOD. When I first saw the news for this, I think I gagged. That’s awful. *shudder* What boggles my mind is how people are completely ignoring the fact that it’s based on a stage show. Someone in my guided study class said:
Girl: “OHMYGAW I just got the movie Hairspray on DVD!”
Me: Really? It’s a good movie, but the stage show’s better, I think.
Girl: There was a stage show!?
Me: …Yes. It’s what the movie’s based on.
Girl: I thought it was an original musical like High School Musical.
We no longer speak. 🙂
Hmmm… I did see the movie Hairspray roughly 20 years ago, and enjoyed it a lot. While I agree that most musicals are better on stage than they are on screen, West Side Story, in my opinion, is a rare exception to that – it’s wonderful on both stage and on screen. The musical Hair is good on both stage and screen also. My Fair Lady was wonderful on stage, the movie was OK. The same can be said with Oklahoma! High School Musical – not something I wish to see.
Well, yes, but in this case the sequel to said movie is based on the stage show. 🙂