Jim Broadbent will be taking the role of Wilbur Turnblad in the upcoming film version of Hairspray, according to Variety. The film has an expected release date of December, 2007.
Broadbent won an Academy Award for his featured performance as John Bayley in the film Iris. His stage career in the UK includes roles in such productions as Our Country's Good, Bent, Ecstasy and Goosepimples. Broadbent's other film credits include Nicholas Nickleby, Moulin Rouge, Gangs of New York and Topsy-Turvy.
The Hairspray movie, based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, will be directed by Adam Shankman. As previously announced, the cast will also include John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, Brittany Snow as Amber von Tussle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma von Tussle, Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, Zac Efron as Link Larkin and Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton.
