Source: Variety

Billy Crystal is in talks to play Wilbur Turnblad in New Line Cinema's  film of Hairspray, reports Variety.

Meanwhile, Aretha Franklin is negotiating to play R&B record shop owner Motormouth Maybelle.

It was reported last month by sources close to Hairspray that John Travolta has first dibs to star as zaftig leading lady Edna Turnblad 

New Line said no offers would be made to cast the film until scribe Leslie Dixon ("Mrs. Doubtfire," "Look Who's Talking") finishes the script. She recently replaced the musical's original book writers, Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, on the project.

Hairspray is expected, but not confirmed, to go before the cameras in September.

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