The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the ultimate cult hit. Over 40 years after its release, audiences still revel in dressing as the characters and performing along with the movie. The film is actually still in limited release in theaters across the country, making it the movie with the longest theatrical release in history. Now that the musical comedy horror film is heading to television as a two-hour spectacular, we’re getting a lot of information about the new stars who’ll be filling that production with song. Let’s look at who’s joined the cast.
Janet – Victoria Justice
Playing the innocent, newly engaged Janet will be Victoria Justice. The fresh faced Nickelodeon star was featured in the channel’s Zoey 101 from 2005 to 2008, and had her own show on the network, Victorious, from 2010 to 2013. She’s also had parts on Gilmore Girls, True Jackson, VP and Everwood, while co-starring in the film Fun Size in 2012.
Brad – Ryan McCartan
Janet’s fiancé is being played by Ryan McCartan. His first acting credit came in 2011, and he soon racked up appearances in The Middle, Last Man Standing, Royal Pains and co-starred on the Disney Channel show Liv and Maddie for two years. His upcoming projects include The Standoff and Emma’s Chance.
Dr. Frank-N-Furter – Laverne Cox
As the crazy, creepy, perfect lingerie laden, sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania, Orange is the New Black actress Laverne Cox is stepping into the outrageous heels made famous by Tim Curry in the original 1975 film. She had parts in Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order and Bored to Death before becoming a household name on the Netflix series. Cox has the TV movie Doubt and the film Freak Show due out this year.
Eddie – Adam Lambert
Singer Adam Lambert will take on the part of partial brain donor Eddie. Lambert is best known for coming in as runner up on the eighth season on FOX’s American Idol in 2009. Lambert’s only acting credit to date has been as Elliott “Starchild” Gilbert on Glee in 2013 and 2014, but his status as a consummate performer bodes well for his part in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Riff Raff – Reeve Carney
Reeve Carney is taking on the role of freaky handyman, Riff Raff. His name might not be familiar to you, but Carney originated to role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” performing a score created by U2’s Bono and The Edge. Carney is most recently recognizable for playing Dorian Gray in the Showtime series Penny Dreadful.
Columbia – Annaleigh Ashford
The lively live-in groupie of the castle is being played by Annaleigh Ashford. She's also lively as receptionist/office manager Betty DiMello on Showtime’s Masters of Sex. Ashford has a long history of work on Broadway, but has also appeared on screen in Sex and the City, Law & Order, Nurse Jackie and Smash, and gave her vocal talents to Frozen.
Rocky Horror – Staz Nair
Model and singer Staz Nair is a new-comer with three credits on his list right now. The actor is taking on the role of the titular character, a being created by Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s experiements. Nair’s other credits include Game of Thrones and Bazodee.
Criminologist Narrator – Tim Curry
It would be fair to say that many fans would be unlikely to completely trust a new version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show without at least one of the original actors returning for the project, and the producers have found the right guy to come back into the fold. Tim Curry, who famously rocked some wicked lingerie as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the film, will be playing the Criminologist Narrator of the whole piece. Curry has over 200 credits to his name, including voice work in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Young Justice. He’s performed in Criminal Minds, Kinsey, Will & Grace and It.
Magenta – Christina Milian
As creepy castle maid and Riff Raff's sister, Christina Milian will take on the role of Magenta. The singer and actress can currently be seen on FOX's Grandfathered, and has a long list of credits to her name. She made her first screen appearance in 1996 and has since had roles in Love Don't Cost a Thing, Be Cool, Smallville and CSI, she's also done voice work for Family Guy for the past six years. Milian released three studio albums from 2001 to 2006.
Dr. Everett Scott – Ben Vereen
The role of Dr. Everett Scott needs to be filled by someone with some gravitas, and that's why they've signed up actor/singer/dancer Ben Vereen to the part. Vereen got his start on Broadway in the late 1960s, and went on to win the Best Actor in a Musical Tony Award for Pippin. Along with his extensive stage work, Vereen has racked up 70 film and TV credits. He's appeared in Roots, Webster, Top Five and Hot in Cleveland.
As with any remake it’ll be hard to live up to the original, but it sure looks like the new version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has already built up a great cast. Now all we have to do is watch and see if it’s worth the hype it’s sure to get.
