Tim Curry in the ’75 original film
EW just gave us exclusive reveal of Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Seen here with Ben Vereen as Dr. Scott, Laverne takes on the role Tim Curry originated both on stage as well as in the classic 1975 film, as if we have to tell you. Cox told EW,
“I get tweets from people, ‘Please don’t fuck up Rocky Horror Picture Show!’ I showed my brother pictures of me in character and he was like, ‘You were preparing your whole life for this.’ ”
Notice that this Frank has a different look. That’s intentional. The costumes for this Show are by Tony-winning legend, William Ivey Long…
“We were on set and a reporter saw me and said I looked like the love child of Grace Jones and David Bowie. I said ‘That’s exactly right.’ I think we mix up the look more than they did in the original. It’s inspired by the original but it’s really our own take. It’s way more elaborate and couture. [Director] Kenny Ortega had this vision that Frank was at this old theater and found these old burlesque costumes and is, like, using them and wearing them now but has altered them a bit.”
Cox calls the experience “magical” and even a little bit life-changing when it comes to the musical numbers.
“When I started training again last year, I started working my chest voice. As a trans woman with a low voice, I had been so afraid of those low tones. This is a character where it’s absolutely appropriate that I sing in the base baritone register that I have. What’s also fun is playing with those higher notes in my register too. This is sort of my professional singing debut. But it’s been wonderful claiming my chest voice. It’s been really healing.”
Fox’s Rocky Horror Picture Show airs this fall and also features Reeve Carney (Riff Raff), Christina Milian (Magenta), Annaleigh Ashford (Columbia), Victoria Justice (Janet), Ryan McCartan (Brad), Adam Lambert (Eddie), and a cameo by Tim Curry himself as the Narrator.
Check out more pics and the full story here.
(via EW)
