Film Remake of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the Works

Universal Pictures is planning a redo of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, but the new film may wind up looking different than the 1978 Broadway musical or the 1982 film version starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. According to Variety, producers plan to give the story of the famed Chicken Ranch brothel a “modern take” and, although the film will feature musical numbers, it may or may not use the original songs.

Marking the debut of Tommy Tune in the dual role of director/choreographer, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas premiered at the now-defunct Entermedia Theater off-Broadway in April 1978, moving to Broadway’s 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers) just two months later. Featuring a book by Larry L. King (adapting his own Playboy story) and Peter Masterson and a score by Carol Hall, the musical was a huge hit, running for more than four years and 1,647 performances. The show received seven 1979 Tony nominations, with Carlin Glynn and Henderson Forsythe winning Tonys for the roles later played by Parton and Reynolds. Hall’s catchy score includes “Good Old Girl,” “Hard Candy Christmas” and “Texas Has a Whorehouse in It.”

The film version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas premiered on July 23, 1982, as the Broadway production was finishing its run. With Parton as madam Mona Stangley and Reynolds as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, it was a big summer hit, grossing $69 million. The film remains the eighth highest-grossing movie musical ever. For the film, Parton contributed two new songs to Hall’s score, including the iconic love ballad “I Will Always Love You.”

The new movie musical will be written by screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, who previously collaborated on the films Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, Ella Enchanted, The House Bunny and The Ugly Truth. No director or stars have been announced.