Christopher Walken Replaces Jim Broadbent In Hairspray

Christopher Walken has replaced Jim Broadbent as Wilber Turnblad in Hairspray for New Line.

The remake, directed by Adam Shankman, is based on the broadway play which is based on the original 1988 John Waters film. Walken joins John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Zac Efron and newcomer Nikki Blonsky in the cast.

Lyricist-composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning tandem that wrote the Hairspray score, are penning several new tunes for the movie, with Shankman choreographing.

Variety reports the producers originally wanted Walken, but due to scheduling conflicts, he could not make it. Shooting for Hairspray starts next month in Toronto; a summer 2007 release has been set.