Les Fabian BrathwaiteLaverne Cox is continuing her national takeover with a role in the upcoming television "reimagining" of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, premiering next fall on Fox.
The Emmy-nominated actress will step into Tim Curry's stilettos as the sexually ambiguous, pansexually flirtatious, alien mad scientist holding an annual Transylvania convention, which hapless couple Brad and Janet stumble upon.
The original 1975 film also starred Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf, a pre-Oscar Susan Sarandon and this eternal hot piece (Peter Hinwood) as the titular Rocky Horror, Frank-N-Furter's monster.
Thanks to a cult following, last month was the film's record-breaking 40th anniversary of theatrical distribution.
Not much else is known about the two-hour Fox remake, though High School Musical's Kenny Ortega will direct, choreograph and executive produce. Well, let's just hope it's better than that trainwreck Glee attempted a while back.
Meanwhile, reactions to Cox's casting have ranged from "perfect to horrible" concerning the actress, who is transgender, playing a "sweet transvestite."
Now, we could get into how transgressive—even revolutionary—it is for a black trans woman to play a role originated by a white cisgender man, but perhaps Cox's agent said it best.
“It’s a role, and she, like every other actor, plays a role,” Paul Hilepo told The Advocate. "There’s nothing more to it."
You gotta admit, though—it's still pretty cool. As for Cox, she's living her life:
Les Fabian Brathwaite—time warped now.
Laverne Cox IS Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror TV Remake
00Laverne Cox IS Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror TV Remake