Glee’s Ryan Murphy to Direct The Rocky Horror Picture Show Remake?

Posted by on October 19th, 2010   Filed under: Horror, Music, Rumours, TV
Source: Deadline New York

With the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show hitting Blu-ray today, I suppose it’s only fitting that we jump on a juicy little rumour about the long-gestating remake. Last we heard, MTV was developing a new version of the cult classic and they had Russell Brand in mind to star as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. I’m not sure if this is the same project we’re talking about here or if there’s a competing remake on the horizon, but Deadline New York is reporting that Fox 2000 are now the ones setting up the project, and they’ve apparently approached Glee creator Ryan Murphy about directing.

Surprised? Don’t be. Glee just finished shooting a Rocky Horror-themed episode due to air next Tuesday (Oct. 26th). There’s no debating the impact that Glee has had on Hollywood over the past year or so. High School Musical may have started the trend, but now every TV show seems to be incorporating musical elements, and even more musicals are being lined up for big screen adaptations.

Murphy is said to be in discussions but hasn’t made a decision as of yet. He has a few other projects on his plate, including the Mark Ruffalo AIDS drama The Normal Heart, and another Julia Roberts rom-com. It’s interesting to note that his feature film outings Running with Scissors and Eat Pray Love have been basically torn apart by critics. This might be a good opportunity to take the credibility he has gained from Glee and apply it to a feature film. The inevitable bigger question, however, is should anyone remake The Rocky Horror Picture Show?



  • Cassandra

    Leave it up to MTV to destroy a classic

  • Morbious Fod

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show is perfect the way it is. Why remake a film that flopped on it’s original release? They only want to milk the fan community of the film to try to make a quick buck without a clue why people are drawn to this film. This remake will fall on it’s face, you can’t improve or capitalize on perfection, that’s already been tried with Shock Treatment. Any fan will tell you how that went.

  • As a huge Glee fan, I just saw RHPS for the first time a few weeks ago, as prep for next week’s episode. At first I was stunned at the atrocity of it, and I could not for the life of me figure out how it has become so popular over the years. But as I learn more about it, the campy charm is growing on me, and I might even seek out one of those midnight screenings sometime to experience it full-on.

    Does it need to be re-made? No. It would be pretty much impossible to top the original cast, especially Tim Curry’s role, but if they’re going to dare try, I’m pretty sure Ryan is the one to do lead the way. Early previews of the Glee tribute look great, and he’s handled faithful remakes and tributes to a number of musical artists (Madonna, Britney, etc.) really well.

    One criticism I’ve read about the Glee covers of the music (officially released today, but leaked several days ago) is that they sound too “pretty,” and some are worried that they are taking away the gritty, recorded-in-a-tin-can appeal of the original songs. That’s probably a valid argument, and something that will probably also be said about the eventual movie, which will surely have a much bigger budget.

    But so what? There’s no point in trying to make the songs sound bad again, might as well take the opposite approach and really polish them up. Maybe a shiny new version will introduce new fans to both versions? Glee did it for me, and the episode hasn’t even aired yet.

  • Nate

    The only time Glee is watchable is when Jane Lynch is on the screen. Everything else about that show is shit. Also no one wants a teeny bopper version of RHPS. Terrible news all around.

  • Captain N

    This film should be remade, if only for the reaction the internet film community will have.

  • Steve

    Ryan Murphy’s fairly talented and I actually enjoy the show. It’s quite obvious that there will be a Wicked adaption down the road, what with Glee bringing much more exposure to the original through cameos of the broadway cast and homage.

  • Rick

    another remake being made only to detract from the original. this is a bad idea. No matter what they do they can never equal the quality or the accomplishments of the first one.