We love you Harvey Fierstein, but this is too much.
The legendary actor, playwright, and screenwriter Harvey Fierstein can normally do no wrong. We’ve loved him in the Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage aux Folles, and dozens of other projects, but when it comes to his casting ideas for a film adaptation of his musical Kinky Boots, we’re not exactly on the same page.
When Page Six asked Fierstein who he’d like to see star in a potential movie adaptation of his musical – which itself was an adaptation of a British movie – the Broadway legend said he wants pop stars to star in the musical.
“I think Harry Styles would be glorious,” Fierstein said about the role of Charlie, a shoe factory owner struggling to save his family business who meets Lola, a fabulous drag queen who saves his company by encouraging him to make larger-sized women’s shoes.
“I was also thinking about Bruno Mars for Lola,” he continued. “I mean, he’s got the theatricalities and all that stuff.”
Harry Styles??? Bruno Mars????
Fierstein is a true legend on Broadway and in Hollywood, but this is not the Kinky Boots we know and love!
Back when we thought Styles might be both bisexual and a great actor, he might have been perfect for the role. But now that reviews for his two movies this year, My Policeman and Don’t Worry Darling, are out, and Harry is not, we’ve cooled on the former One Direction member.
Also remember that the role of Lola on Broadway was originated by Billy Porter, who went on to win a Tony for his performance. No offense to Mars, but he’s no Billy Porter.
Right now there are so many talented queer and gay performers who would be perfect for the role. Justice Smith, Dyllón Burnside, Armand Fields, A Strange Loop’s Jaquel Spivey, Jeremy Pope, and Alex Newell are a few actors who could flourish in the role, and that’s not even looking at actual drag queens who also act.
What about Shangela, Valentina, Bob the Drag Queen, or other RuPaul’s Drag Race alums who also have the acting chops to pull off the role? I’d rather see one of them than Bruno Mars in drag any day.
Hopefully, a Kinky Boots movie will become a reality sometime soon, but if it’s going to star Styles and Mars, we can wait just a little bit longer...
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