'Hairspray' Takes Hold of Pfeiffer

Zap2It.com | July 17, 2006

Michelle Pfeiffer

Actress joins fellow former Oscar nominees Travolta and Latifah

Michelle Pfeiffer is in talks to join the bulging ensemble of "Hairspray," New Line's big screen adaptation of the musical adaptation of John Waters' 1988 cult comedy.

Adam Shankman is set to direct the film, which stars newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, a zaftig young woman who becomes a television star on a Baltimore dance show. Queen Latifah is already on board as Motormouth Maybelle, with Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton, Brittany Snow as Amber von Tussel, Zac Efron as Link Larkin and John Travolta -- in drag -- as Edna Turnblad.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pfeiffer would play Velma von Tussel, the former beauty queen who produces the dance show and makes Tracy into a sensation.

Pfeiffer earned Oscar nominations for "Dangerous Liaisons," "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "Love Field."

Absent from the big screen since "White Oleander" in 2002, Pfeiffer's already completed work on the upcoming "I Could Never Be Your Woman" from Amy Heckerling ("Clueless"). She's currently shooting the Neil Gaiman adaptation "Stardust" with director Matthew Vaughn ("Layer Cake").