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Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Horror

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Laverne Cox already made history as the first transgender actor to receive an Emmy nomination. Now the Orange Is The New Black standout is breaking new ground for transgender performers as star of Fox’s TV remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Cox will play Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the role played by Tim Curry in the original Broadway cast and the 1975 movie. With Cox on board, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which had been gestating for a while, is getting a formal green light for a premiere in fall 2016.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is from Fox 21 Television Studios and Gail Berman’s The Jackal Group. Berman, who has background as a Broadway producer, met Lou Adler, the Grammy-winning Rocky Horror Picture Show executive producer, in 2004. The two started mulling a reimagined version of the cult-classic and, in 2014, they partnered to begin development at Fox. (Berman originally tried to get a Rocky Horror special off the ground in 2002 as Fox Entertainment president.) On Fox, Glee did a Rocky Horror Glee Show episode in 2010.

Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Horror'

Cue white people everywhere to be freaking out over this online in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I haven't seen any complaints about race (though admittedly I've only looked at a 2 comment sections on Facebook), but I have seen a number of folks complain that they cast a woman in the role. I've never watched the movie all the way though, but I'm pretty sure Frank-N-Furter is actually a man, so I can't really blame the fans for being upset at them (presumably) altering a core aspect of the character.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Oh good, Rocky Horror fans get their own Berman to bitch about!
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

^Well, at least it's not about her skin color this time.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

(dunno why I can't quote the first post...) Why do the racist's work for them? That just makes you look biased.

From what I've seen of Orange is the New Black I think she could do it justice. She has a big full mouth of teeth like Tim Curry and I think the height IIRC.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Long time Rocky Horror fan, here. The news that Laverne Cox is cast piques my interest in the production.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I haven't seen any complaints about race (though admittedly I've only looked at a 2 comment sections on Facebook), but I have seen a number of folks complain that they cast a woman in the role. I've never watched the movie all the way though, but I'm pretty sure Frank-N-Furter is actually a man, so I can't really blame the fans for being upset at them (presumably) altering a core aspect of the character.

Wait. People are being rigid and uptight about gender in . . . The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Am I the only one who thinks that's just bizarre?

Rocky Horror is all about being outrageous and breaking the rules, especially where sex and gender are concerned. ("Don't dream it, be it . . . .")

But a transgender woman playing a "Sweet Transvestite from Trans-Sexual Transylvania" is somehow inappropriate? Because some Rocky Horror fans are too conservative to cope with anything too radical?

Okay, that's just absurd.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

No relation, right, Greg? ;)
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I haven't seen any complaints about race (though admittedly I've only looked at a 2 comment sections on Facebook), but I have seen a number of folks complain that they cast a woman in the role. I've never watched the movie all the way though, but I'm pretty sure Frank-N-Furter is actually a man, so I can't really blame the fans for being upset at them (presumably) altering a core aspect of the character.

Wait. People are being rigid and uptight about gender in . . . The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Am I the only one who thinks that's just bizarre?

Rocky Horror is all about being outrageous and breaking the rules, especially where sex and gender are concerned. ("Don't dream it, be it . . . .")

But a transgender woman playing a "Sweet Transvestite from Trans-Sexual Transylvania" is somehow inappropriate? Because some Rocky Horror fans are too conservative to cope with anything too radical?

Okay, that's just absurd.

Yeah, that sounded weird to me, too. If anything, being a transwoman seems to me like an asset for this particular role, certainly not something that disqualifies her.

Wasn't thrilled at the idea of a remake, being such a big fan of the original. But this being a TV special somehow makes it okay, don't ask me to rationalize this.
I haven't seen "Orange is the new Black", but I've heard only good things about Miss Cox.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I normally wouldn't be interested in a remake of Rocky Horror Picture Show, but Laverne Cox's casting as Frank N. Furter piques my interest because of the fluidity of gender in the film.

What am I curious to know is what involvement, if any, does Richard O'Brien have in the production?
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

(dunno why I can't quote the first post...)
It's the angled apostrophes in the quoted text, most likely. Certain special characters have been causing a glitch in combination with the Firefox browser and the version of php currently used by TBBS.


Laverne Cox does sound like a great casting choice for Frank N. Furter. She's got the stuff to pull it off.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I haven't seen any complaints about race (though admittedly I've only looked at a 2 comment sections on Facebook), but I have seen a number of folks complain that they cast a woman in the role. I've never watched the movie all the way though, but I'm pretty sure Frank-N-Furter is actually a man, so I can't really blame the fans for being upset at them (presumably) altering a core aspect of the character.

Wait. People are being rigid and uptight about gender in . . . The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Am I the only one who thinks that's just bizarre?

Rocky Horror is all about being outrageous and breaking the rules, especially where sex and gender are concerned. ("Don't dream it, be it . . . .")

But a transgender woman playing a "Sweet Transvestite from Trans-Sexual Transylvania" is somehow inappropriate? Because some Rocky Horror fans are too conservative to cope with anything too radical?

Okay, that's just absurd.

It is. But this is how people are about movie remakes (although they won't and don't mind Broadway doing the same instead of coming up with completely new and original musicals like this more often than it does.)
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I haven't seen any complaints about race (though admittedly I've only looked at a 2 comment sections on Facebook), but I have seen a number of folks complain that they cast a woman in the role. I've never watched the movie all the way though, but I'm pretty sure Frank-N-Furter is actually a man, so I can't really blame the fans for being upset at them (presumably) altering a core aspect of the character.

Wait. People are being rigid and uptight about gender in . . . The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Am I the only one who thinks that's just bizarre?

Rocky Horror is all about being outrageous and breaking the rules, especially where sex and gender are concerned. ("Don't dream it, be it . . . .")

But a transgender woman playing a "Sweet Transvestite from Trans-Sexual Transylvania" is somehow inappropriate? Because some Rocky Horror fans are too conservative to cope with anything too radical?

Okay, that's just absurd.

Yeah, that sounded weird to me, too. If anything, being a transwoman seems to me like an asset for this particular role, certainly not something that disqualifies her.

Wasn't thrilled at the idea of a remake, being such a big fan of the original. But this being a TV special somehow makes it okay, don't ask me to rationalize this.
I haven't seen "Orange is the new Black", but I've heard only good things about Miss Cox.

@Bold

I think this is something that should be addressed and cleared up.

The character of Frank-N-Furter (who I will refer to as Frank from now on), is not a transexual. He's an admitted transvestite. A transvestite is a person (in this regard a man) who enjoys dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex. Think Eddie Izzard or Ru Paul. Frank wears make-up, high heels, hosiery, and women's lingerie.

With regards to Frank's sexuality, he is bisexual. He's had sex with Janet, Brad, Columbia, and Rocky.

Laverne Cox is a woman who has relationships with men IRL, and dresses and acts like a woman. Because she is one. She is not a man in drag, who commits to relationships with both genders out of their own perverse kinks, like Frank.

So hiring a trans woman (a man who has transitioned into a woman) to play the role of a character who is a bisexual man, who enjoys dressing like a woman, misses the point.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Remaking an iconic film with such a fervent fan base is a dicey venture whether Frank is a man, a woman, or an animated / CGI character. :vulcan:

It would be like remaking Gone with the Wind with Brad and Angelina. :wtf:

Or remaking The Princess Bride with Robert Pattison and Kristen Stewart. :cardie:

There are some remakes that should be left undone. :p

GREAT SCOTT! :eek:
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

^ The difference being that those movies are good.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Wait. People are being rigid and uptight about gender in . . . The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Am I the only one who thinks that's just bizarre?

Rocky Horror is all about being outrageous and breaking the rules, especially where sex and gender are concerned. ("Don't dream it, be it . . . .")

But a transgender woman playing a "Sweet Transvestite from Trans-Sexual Transylvania" is somehow inappropriate? Because some Rocky Horror fans are too conservative to cope with anything too radical?

Okay, that's just absurd.

Yeah, that sounded weird to me, too. If anything, being a transwoman seems to me like an asset for this particular role, certainly not something that disqualifies her.

Wasn't thrilled at the idea of a remake, being such a big fan of the original. But this being a TV special somehow makes it okay, don't ask me to rationalize this.
I haven't seen "Orange is the new Black", but I've heard only good things about Miss Cox.

@Bold

I think this is something that should be addressed and cleared up.

The character of Frank-N-Furter (who I will refer to as Frank from now on), is not a transexual. He's an admitted transvestite. A transvestite is a person (in this regard a man) who enjoys dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex. Think Eddie Izzard or Ru Paul. Frank wears make-up, high heels, hosiery, and women's lingerie.

With regards to Frank's sexuality, he is bisexual. He's had sex with Janet, Brad, Columbia, and Rocky.

Laverne Cox is a woman who has relationships with men IRL, and dresses and acts like a woman. Because she is one. She is not a man in drag, who commits to relationships with both genders out of their own perverse kinks, like Frank.

So hiring a trans woman (a man who has transitioned into a woman) to play the role of a character who is a bisexual man, who enjoys dressing like a woman, misses the point.

PC Principal, is that you?!

Note the "If anything" part. I know the difference between a transsexual and a transvestite. BUT as a transwoman, Cox brings experience about the fluidity of gender. Is that automatically an asset? No. But it is more likely an asset than a disqualifying factor.

Also, "misses the point"? You realize these people are acting, right?! They do not need to be exactly what they are portraying.

Remaking an iconic film with such a fervent fan base is a dicey venture whether Frank is a man, a woman, or an animated / CGI character. :vulcan:

It would be like remaking Gone with the Wind with Brad and Angelina. :wtf:

Or remaking The Princess Bride with Robert Pattison and Kristen Stewart. :cardie:

There are some remakes that should be left undone. :p

GREAT SCOTT! :eek:

It would not be like remaking Gone with the Wind with Brad and Angelina. It would be like remaking Gone with the Wind, period. Actually, not even that, because "The Rocky Horror Show" is actually a stage production, first. The movie was an adaptation of the stage production, and the theatres have recast the characters a lot.

Now, remaking such an iconic movie is not necessary, but I've come around to thinking, it doesn't hurt, either. So, the question shouldn't be "Why?", but "Why not?". It's not like this production is looking out to replace the original movie. That's out of the question, if for no other reason than it being made-for-TV, where the original movie LIVES from the shared theatre experience more than any other movie in the world.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

I suppose the only issue for me is if she looks like a woman and acts like a woman and sounds like a woman then it's another example of woman on woman action being more acceptable on TV than man on man action. That's irksome. When I watched the US version of State of Play, it was annoying that the gay 'good guy' was lost in editing leaving only a reprehensible bi guy to fly the flag. However, many other shows are featuring gay characters these days so I can't really view this casting as a step backwards.

Plus Frank is pretty reprehensible too and it is just a fun, silly musical. If Laverne can manage a deep voice I think she can pull it off! However, she will likely look far better in suspenders than the original intent...
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Yeah, that sounded weird to me, too. If anything, being a transwoman seems to me like an asset for this particular role, certainly not something that disqualifies her.

Wasn't thrilled at the idea of a remake, being such a big fan of the original. But this being a TV special somehow makes it okay, don't ask me to rationalize this.
I haven't seen "Orange is the new Black", but I've heard only good things about Miss Cox.

@Bold

I think this is something that should be addressed and cleared up.

The character of Frank-N-Furter (who I will refer to as Frank from now on), is not a transexual. He's an admitted transvestite. A transvestite is a person (in this regard a man) who enjoys dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex. Think Eddie Izzard or Ru Paul. Frank wears make-up, high heels, hosiery, and women's lingerie.

With regards to Frank's sexuality, he is bisexual. He's had sex with Janet, Brad, Columbia, and Rocky.

Laverne Cox is a woman who has relationships with men IRL, and dresses and acts like a woman. Because she is one. She is not a man in drag, who commits to relationships with both genders out of their own perverse kinks, like Frank.

So hiring a trans woman (a man who has transitioned into a woman) to play the role of a character who is a bisexual man, who enjoys dressing like a woman, misses the point.

PC Principal, is that you?!

Note the "If anything" part. I know the difference between a transsexual and a transvestite. BUT as a transwoman, Cox brings experience about the fluidity of gender. Is that automatically an asset? No. But it is more likely an asset than a disqualifying factor.

Also, "misses the point"? You realize these people are acting, right?! They do not need to be exactly what they are portraying.
PC Principal? I think you misunderstood the meaning of my post, bro.

I was trying to illustrate that a transsexual =/= transvestite. They are not the same thing, so touting Larverne Cox as having an asset to the character of Frank, because of her sexuality and gender is not accurate.

I think people just see the word trans and assume they are all the same. Like I said earlier, Eddie Izzard and Ru Paul are both transvestites, however neither of them are gay. Caitlin Jenner is a transwoman. However, she has said she has no intention of dating men, and plans to continue dating women the way she did as a man (keeping her male genitalia). Cox is a transwoman who dates men, and does not consider herself gay or bisexual.

Trans people exist across a spectrum, and I wanted to provide some clarity to the differences.

With regards to acting, yes I understand they are playing make believe. I'm not trying to disqualify Cox, I'm trying to illustrate Frank as a character is supposed to be an outlandish caricature. The entire movie is a spoof on several genres. Frank being a polyarmorus bisexual, who wears women's lingerie, make-up and heels is supposed to be seen as shocking and obscene. One of the songs in the movie even points out that Frank's lifestyle is "too extreme". Hiring a transwoman to play a character who is a caricature of a often confused sub-section of people (transsexual =/= transvestite) doesn't seem empowering or progressive. Which i believe is the intention behind this casting. I could be wrong of course.
 
Re: Laverne Cox To Be Frank 'N Furter in TV movie version of 'Rocky Ho

Well, to be fair, Frank's a Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.

Hang on. Does that mean he's a transman who likes to dress in women's clothing?!
 
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