Theater News

Christopher Walken to Play Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray Film

Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken

Academy Award winner Christopher Walken has replaced Jim Broadbent as Wibur Turnblad in the film version of the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray, according to Variety. The movie will begin shooting this fall and is expected to open on December 21, 2007. It will be directed by Adam Shankman.

As previously reported, Hairspray will also star John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton, Brittany Snow as Amber von Tussle, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, James Marsden as Corny Collins, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma von Tussle. For many months, it had been rumored that Billy Crystal would play the role of Wilbur.

Walken received a Theatre World Award for The Rose Tattoo, a Drama Desk nomination for Lemon Sky, and a Tony Award nomination for The Dead. His other Broadway credits include The Lion in the Winter, Sweet Bird of Youth, and Hurlyburly. He won an Academy Award for The Deer Hunter and has appeared in dozens of movies including Pennies from Heaven, Biloxi Blues, and Batman Returns.