Laverne Cox will reportedly star in Fox's 'Rocky Horror' production
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Actress Laverne Cox will reportedly play one of the lead roles in Fox鈥檚 upcoming TV remake of 鈥淭he Rocky Horror Picture Show.鈥�
鈥淥range Is the New Black鈥� actress Cox will take on the role of Frank-N-Furter, a role played by actor Tim Curry in the 1975 film. The movie version also stars Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, and Richard O鈥橞rien. O鈥橞rien also wrote and composed the show.聽
Cox was nominated for an Emmy Award for best guest actress in a comedy series for her work on 鈥淥range," the first transgender actress to receive the honor. She has also appeared on the show 鈥淭he Mindy Project,鈥� which was formerly on Fox before transferring to Hulu, and the Bravo TV show 鈥淕irlfriends鈥� Guide to Divorce鈥� as well as other work.聽
The news of 鈥淩ocky鈥� casting arrives as TV musicals are currently a popular idea. NBC hit it big with its 2013 production 鈥淭he Sound of Music Live!,鈥� which starred Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer as well as seasoned Broadway veterans like 海角大神 Borle, Laura Benanti, and Audra McDonald. The network got huge ratings from 鈥淢usic鈥� and NBC鈥檚 2014 production 鈥淧eter Pan Live!鈥� still did well in the ratings, though it didn鈥檛 perform as well as 鈥淢usic.鈥� The network is planning 鈥淭he Wiz Live!鈥� for later this year.聽
Fox has already put one live musical on its schedule with this January鈥檚 鈥淕rease: Live,鈥� which will star Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit. Kenny Ortega, who directed such Disney musicals as 鈥淣ewsies鈥� and the 鈥淗igh School Musical鈥� series as well as the recent 鈥淒escendants,鈥� is set to direct 鈥淩ocky.鈥澛�
With its themes of sexuality, 鈥淩ocky鈥� continues to be a part of the national conversation about gay and transgender issues. Sarandon said in an that she feels the movie and screenings of it have 鈥済iven a home to so many people, especially those who need to be accepted for who they are.鈥澛�
Fox鈥檚 production of the show is set to air next fall.
