Time Warp! MTV Remaking "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
(Photo by John Jay / MPTV.net) Yes, we can do the time warp again. But should we?
MTV is planning to film a remake of the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, according to Variety.
Here's my initial response to the news: Why bother? Seriously, I just don't think MTV can top this all-out freakfest.
The original script will be used for the remake, Variety reports. But—get this—new music might to be added to the mix. This does not sit well with me. New music? From whom? Katy Perry? The Pussycat Dolls? The Jonas Brothers? How dare you, MTV!
Let's talk about casting. Can anyone take the place of Tim Curry as Transylvanian transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter? My fear is that MTV will squeeze Pete Wentz into Dr. Frank-N-Furter's corset. Okay, maybe that's not such a bad idea. And I'm almost scared to say it, but might Amy Winehouse work well in this role?
(Getty Images) And what about Riff Raff? I imagine MTV going after 50 Cent for that role. Okay, that might be interesting. Oh dammit -- then there's Janet! And Brad!
I don't know. Maybe MTV making a remake isn't as terrible as I first thought. I know for sure that MTV will never top the beloved original, but maybe it would be interesting to see what a new generation of stars would do with material that even today remains wonderfully subversive. Plus, maybe kids who haven't been exposed to the original film will be inspired to check it out.
Surely, you've been to a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What do you think? Is it a crime to remake The Rocky Horror Picture Show, or might this be a good thing? And who would you cast in the starring roles? Add your casting suggestions in the comments section below, and in the meantime, here's a clip of "Sweet Tranvestite" to get your casting-call mind moving!
Yes it's a crime send the MTV producers down to GITMO. Althought I think a coup for casting Rocky would be one of those Jenner boys
Posted by: casey | July 24, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I was against the idea of a remake. Let's face it -- the original can never be improved upon.
That said, if they stuck to the music and the script completely, I could see where it *could* work, but it woudl all depend on casting.
Frankly, casting Amy Winehouse in the Tim Curry role could be super great. Johnny Depp could be great in the role too. If Pete Wentz gets anywhere near this project I will personally puke.
Oh -- what about JAKE SHEARS????? He woudl be absolutely fantastic in the role!
I'll have to do some more thinking about this and the other characters.
Posted by: Green guy | July 24, 2008 at 01:57 PM
I think it would be a great idea to remake this classic if it's done right. Dang, could you imagine the actors and actresses who would line up for the parts.........
Posted by: Paul | July 24, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Neil Patrick Harris has to be in there somewhere. Not Brad. Riff Raff?
Posted by: RoGo | July 24, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Marilyn Manson should be frankenfurter. Darin Malakian should be Riff Raff. If you are going to make a movie about freaks then get freaks to play them. DUH!
Posted by: William | July 24, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Can't we just leave a good thing alone? Have we lost our creativity and can't come up with our new films? This is a classic over 30 years old that if redone will probably be horrific!
I mean the same thing is happening on Broadway. Instead of encouraging young artists to do theater we're going back to the old musicals and plays. Or if it is a new play it's based on something else (Young Frankenstein).
Do we want to be known as the copy generation? Let's find another reason to get Peter Wentz into drag if that's what your interested in seeing!
Posted by: Toby | July 24, 2008 at 03:10 PM
For the love of Transexual, DON'T DO IT! If MTV glitzes it up all point will be lost. It was a surburban, trash glam, car crash and a one off!
Posted by: Scottie | July 24, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Ok -- I think Neil Patrick Harris as Brad is great, and I just thought of a great Janet. Are you ready? Don't let her personal history cloud your judgement...Lindsay Lohan!
For one thing, she can act. Second, she's getting her act back together. And she can sing. She's also hot if you ask me.
Posted by: Green guy | July 24, 2008 at 04:44 PM
I could see Neil Patrick Harris as Good Ol' Frank-N Furter! He has an awesome voice and can play outrageous character roles quite well!
Posted by: ChicCityBoy | July 24, 2008 at 05:00 PM
mtv should do a remake of rockky horror picture show. pete wentz would be hot casting as dr. franken-furtur.
Posted by: Patrick | July 24, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Neil Patrick Harris as brad would be insane and great. Linsey Lohan as Janet would too. Arron Carter as Riff Raff and Amy Winehouse as Magenta! HUMMM Columbia whom would be killer for that! OMG Kirstan Dunst! and as DR. Frank n Furter! HELL YEA Nick Simmons! Gene Simmons SON! And Jack Black as Eddie my namesake! opps got to go just messed my self! lol
We could alwasy throw Randy Harris in as ROCKY/monster! MMMMM think Randy in only gold boots and thong!
Posted by: Eddie | July 24, 2008 at 05:19 PM
I think it would be cool to see what a new cast could do for the rocky horror picture show. I mean hell they remade Hairspary and it was a success so I think MTV should remake the Cult-classic because i would just add it to my dvd collection with the Orignial.
and as for The lead of Dr Frank-n-futer i see Pete wentz playing the part.
SO I say go for it.
Posted by: John | July 24, 2008 at 07:10 PM
A bisexual playing a transexual. :)
Posted by: Nik Johnson | July 24, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Rocky Horror should only be remade by MTV (ack!) if they add the word "Disaster" to the title, because that's just what it will be! I mean really! Is nothing sacred?
Posted by: John7 | July 24, 2008 at 09:03 PM
very very simple people. anyone at all familiar with the phrase"once in a lifetime". that is what the original producrtion is. that singular, unique coming together of everything all at once, under the perfect cicumstances that can never ever ever ever be replicated in any way whatsoever. leave it alone. a remake has but one word already writ LARGE across it. FAILURE.
Posted by: whitetrashtop | July 24, 2008 at 09:50 PM
there is NO ONE, and i mean NO ONE that can top Tim Curry, and the rest of the crew! It would be blamphemous to even try. I cried when MTV re-made Carmen. Not because its such a great story, but because it SUCKED! the same will happen here. I've been an uber-fan of RHPS for years. I did it on stage for two years every saturday back in 2000-2002. I love the movie and the play. but everything MTV touches with its little finger, turns to crap! NO BUENO!
Posted by: Justin | July 24, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I sent a note to MTV as seen below...I suggest we bombard them with our thougts!
MTV Horror! Are you guys insane? A remake of Rocky Horror?? Not possible to even come close to a such a cult classic! You could never match the cast.....to add new songs would not be a remake but a revision.........yah those of us who grew up in the theatres every Saturday at midnight to watch and throw rice and toilet paper would watch but only to to trash you for doing it. Hell just broadcast the original......that would be awesome!
Posted by: david | July 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Johnny Depp for Frank n furter!
Only he could transform tim curry's magical spin (well maybe jake spears too!)- Cate Blanchett for Magenta (or Diamanda Galas/amy winehouse /Angelica Huston/britney perhaps!). Jake Gynnelhall as Brad and Toby Macguire as Janet!
k.d.Lang as Eddie! woo hoo! Gore Vidal as the Narrator. Paul Capsis as Riff Raff. oh yeah baby.......
Posted by: damiendownunder | July 24, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Ok I am among the many that are furious at the first thought of it. My family is very very much so in love with RHPS. We have a tradition where each family members 21st Bday party is themed after RHPS. It's alot of fun.
Anywho, about a remake, I just don't know if MTV will pullit off. I mean how many remakes of movies actuall turn out amazingly good? It's kinda sad we just can't leave the good as they are. But I will just have to see how it turns out. I am excited, but nervous as well.
Posted by: John | July 24, 2008 at 11:09 PM
this my me cry and die a little inside how could they even think of such a thing. . . . .
Posted by: MattyLeBeau | July 24, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Ehhh a re-make?? They should do like they did with Legally Blonde and film a stage version (Even though the revival of Rocky came and went on broadway awhile ago). I only say that cause I love the changes the revival made to "Once in Awhile" which was edited out of the original. As for new music only if Richard O'Brien write it or approves it. Cast wise as long as they get people who can actually sing that's what matters to me but they'll go for big name no tallent people this is MTV after all. And put Daria out on DVD!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: David H | July 24, 2008 at 11:09 PM
I think this is a travisty. I love the Rocky Horror Picture Show and hate the idea of a remake. On top of this new musio? The only new music I could accept in a remake of Rocky Horror is if they added the missing verse of There's a Light, One Missed Call ( a deleted song that is in the stage show but not the movie) and the lyrics to Super Heros. Other then that, unless Richard O'Brian were to write it, I could not accept it and it would not have the right feeling or flare to it.
Posted by: Gordon Snider | July 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM
If you take a very awesome cult classic and remake it , please remake it just like original same music and all . i mean if mtv was to ruin a masterpiece , i dont think i could even watch mtv again lol!!! and i hope they dont put alot teen pop singers in it i mean get some good actors to remake a masterpiece;] not remake a total disaster
Posted by: jamie | July 25, 2008 at 12:40 AM
I wouldn't be so opposed to a remake, but by mtv? i mean, i would rather scoop my eyes out with rusty spoons and stick ice picks in my ears, rather than watch mtv.
Posted by: Christian | July 25, 2008 at 12:49 AM
IT IS A CRIME TO REMAKE THIS CLASSIC MOVIE I HAVE MYSELF BEEN ON A CAST AND PLAYED FRANK MYSELF AND NO ONE CAN PLAY THESE ROLLS BETTER THEN WHOM HAVE!!!!! NO NEED TO REMAKE THIS MOVIE REMAKE ANOTHER MOVIE?!
Posted by: Cyber Charge | July 25, 2008 at 02:11 AM
No they shouldn't remake the Rocky Horror Picture Show, because you cant improve on perfection.
Posted by: Scott | July 25, 2008 at 02:49 AM
As a 21 year old, I of course know if it, but have not checked it out, and I consider myself pretty culturally immersed.
I would love to see this made into a modern movie to attract my generation, especially since it's being made by such a mainstream company with as much money and resources as they have.
Posted by: Robert | July 25, 2008 at 04:16 AM
Marilyn Manson to be Frank N Furter and maybe for the "innocent" Janet have Miley Cyrus or someone who has a clean cut image right now.
Posted by: disturbedangel | July 25, 2008 at 05:29 AM
Rocky Horror is a movie for and about being different ... a reject if you will. how is MTV going to manage that? are they going to cast the latest "it" boys & girls from The Hills of The O.C. on Laguna Beach?! For shame you whores of MTV!
Posted by: Patrick | July 25, 2008 at 05:47 AM
It should be done as a deconstruction or tribute, maybe with Todd Haynes directing, not as a remake. Tim Curry should cameo as Dr. Scott. For Frank a quartet of actors should take turns paying homage to Curry's performance. I like the Amy Winehouse idea, especially for the "Sweet Transvestite" scene. Rocky should be played almost entirely in the nude by a porn actor: Mason Wyler, Blake Riley, Tim Hamilton or Jeff Palmer. Gore Vidal as the Narrator would be brilliant! The only thing better would have been William F. Buckley, or even better Gore AND Buckley alternating, but sadly now it's too late.
Posted by: Mark | July 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM
if amy weinhouse is going to be in it she would be better as magenta...she's already got the hair and the coked out eyes...
Posted by: Rambles | July 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Look at the "success" of the sequal... MTV, do you honestly expect to get a good response from this remake..?
Posted by: Rambles | July 25, 2008 at 10:34 AM
James Lipton as the Narrator. Or John McCain. (he'll be looking for work soon enough.)
Annie Lennox as Magenta. ("I'm lucky! You're lucky! He's lucky! We're all lucky!")
Madonna as Columbia.
Jake Shears as Frank.
Jack Black as Eddie. (brilliant, John.)
Sting as Riff. ("You never liked me!!!")
Lindsay is actually a great pick for Janet; great irony.
Justin Timberlake would probably do a good Brad.
Lukas Ridgeston as Rocky. Just because.
Posted by: Richard Ray | July 25, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I HAVE SEEN RHPS, MORE THAN 150 TIMES, AND IT IS A CLASSIK. EVERTIME I SEE IT AT HOME ON ME OWN, I STILL CAN RECAL THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, AND IT BLEW ME AWAY..
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKEN?
I CANNOT SEE PETER, IN THE ROLE OF FRANKEN..NO OFFENSE TO YOU PETER, THAT IS TIM CURRYS' ROLE..JUST LIKE JANET, NO ONE ELSE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT, OTHER THAN SUSAN S. I WOULD HATE FOR PETER TO TRIP OVER HIMSELF...FOR THE SHOES WOULD BE TO BIG TO FILL THEM.
MTV, COME ON, STOP COPING BE ORIGINAL..PUT ALL THOSE GOOD WRITERS TO WORK,MAKE THEM THINK. RHPS, IS A TIME CLASIK...LET LAYING DOGS LIE.
CHEERS
Posted by: BENJAS CHIVPAT | July 25, 2008 at 12:09 PM
really this is an awful idea there will never be abything like the rocky horror picture show ba who do the plan to cast as rocky? an abercrombie boy?
Posted by: atterbury_boi | July 25, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Of course, Johnny Depp as Dr. Frankenfurter. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake as Janet and Brad; that way, there can be another wardrobe malfunction. Snape and costar from Sweeney Todd as Riff Raff and Magenta. Any steroid buddy frequenting Lincoln Road (SoBe) on a Saturday night should be able to fill the roll of Rocky. Madonna on roller skates as Tap Dancing Lil. And Eminem rapping Meat Loaf´s roll.
Posted by: gayincoconutgrove | July 25, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Remakes are for the talentless or for bad originals. If they do this I hope all the Rocky fans rise up and burn down the set with everyone involved inside it.
Posted by: Ray - Jackson, MS | July 25, 2008 at 04:14 PM
DONT DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mark | July 25, 2008 at 06:05 PM
A REMAKE OF A CULT CLASSIC? What the hell. I mean look at what happened with night of the living dead, even though george romero directed it was still nothing compared to the original. And let's face it, MTV could never come close to understanding stylings and sensitivities of the original. I mean can a remake be made sure, would it be any good? NO! Sure it would be funny, but for reasons other than it should be. True it would be interesting seeing some of today's stars in those beloved roles. but come one really? Who can surpass Tim Curry, everyone's favorite Sweet Transvestite?
Posted by: Nairian | July 25, 2008 at 08:29 PM
How about Eva Amurri? Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva would be great as Jane! :-)
Posted by: Kristin | July 25, 2008 at 08:31 PM
JANET SHMANNIT!!! The old "Rocky Horror picture show" can never be replaced.
Posted by: Moon | July 26, 2008 at 01:05 AM
um.. i think this is the worst idea i have ever heard like in my life.
i love the original.
nothing can top it.
jerksss.
Posted by: jordan | July 27, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Just say no.
Posted by: Fauxman | July 27, 2008 at 08:48 AM
If they remake Rocky Horror I'll watch it, but that doesn't mean they should do it. Especially MTV. They're the last people who should be trying to remake something like this.
And I agree with the copying thing btw. Seriously.
Posted by: Aubrey | July 29, 2008 at 12:12 AM
For God's sake leave this movie ALONE! It does not need to be remade.
Posted by: Brain | July 29, 2008 at 03:35 PM
OK. I saw the original when I was 18, my freshman year in college (1978). When my daughter was watching "Rugrats in Paris," I tried to explain to her who the voice of Coco LaBouche (sp?) was. When she was watching "The Wild Thornberries," I tried to explain to her who the voice of Nigel Thornberry was. Now I just want her to see the original, not a remake. But who knows, maybe it's worth a shot?
Posted by: Joe | July 29, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Rocky Horror is my passion and to see
it done by some new random cast would
kill me! No one does it better then
Tim Curry!
HOWEVER i did see the stage show in
Australia and its sooooooooooooooooo
good and i now love the actors in
those roles so i guess i could deal
with it. But if you want anyone for
the role look at a guy called iOTA
he plays frank in the aussie stage
show best fucking thing i have EVER
seen. I think he's just below the tim
curry mark..so i would seriously
consider him
check it out it was on Kerry Anne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGsw4PFbTUs
Posted by: Mary | July 30, 2008 at 03:33 AM
How about Johnny Galecki and either Maggie Gyllenhal or Mandy Moore? All 3 can act and play straight laced like no one else. Plus, we've all heard about Johnny, now we could see it ;)
Posted by: Harrison | July 31, 2008 at 06:04 AM
I don't know about you folks from the GAY.COM-land, but that Pete Wentz irritates the hell outa me. Okay, he said somewhere that he's supposedly attracted to guys (Oh, how dreamy, NOT), yet he would not go there (meaning, the deeds). What are we lepers? Adding to that, he would stick his glorious schlong into something like Ashley Simpson's cooch; oh God, since when is Ashley's cooch gay friendly? He bred with her (it's so spiritual and right,no?). It's probably as genuine as her singing, dontcha think? I wouldn't be suprised to imagine him sticking it at her other end, as a compensation. To me, he's one latent homophobe (or is it biphobe?), as the clinical term applies. But, I should stop with this hate because we need as many "gay-friendly" breeders as we can, and the world would be so fabulous. I don't know why he had to reveal that, and why the "gay community" finds that acceptable by keeping him on its "gaydar".
Posted by: HP | July 31, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Did they not see what happened when they remade Jesus Christ Superstar... It failed because it wasn't as good as the original! I don't think any young actor or actress can pull off Brad and Janet. They still had that Cold War fear of ANYTHING different. Most young people have seen a lot of things so it would be really hard to pull of the deer in the head lights look at a transvestite. Everything Rocky captured is now semi-normal.
Posted by: ShineTilly | August 05, 2008 at 08:53 AM