Crystal and Franklin in Talks for Big Screen Adaptation of Hairspray

Billy Crystal and Aretha Franklin are in talks to play Wilbur Turnblad and Motormouth Maybelle, respectively, in the upcoming film version of the musical Hairspray, according to Variety.

Crystal is currently packing them in on Broadway with his solo show 700 Sundays. Despite his recent theatrical triumph, he is of course best known for his film career. His many film credits include This Ia Spinal Tap, Running Scared, The Princess Bride, Throw Momma from the Train, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, Mr. Saturday Night., City Slickers II, Fathers' Day, Deconstructing Harry, Analyze This, America's Sweethearts and Analyze That.

An R&B icon, Franklin is much better known for her recording career than her film work. While her voice has been heard many times in movies, she has only really acted in two films: The Blues Brothers and its sequel, Blues Brothers 2000.

The film version of Hairspray will feature a script by Leslie Dixon, who recently replaced the tuner's original librettists Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell on the movie. Filming on the project is expected to begin in September. John Travolta is said to be the front-runner for the drag role of Edna Turnblad which Harvey Fierstein memorably inhabited as part of the original cast of the stage version.