Laverne Cox is stepping into Tim Curry’s heels as Variety reports that the Orange Is The New Black actress has been cast as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Fox’s upcoming TV remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Curry famously donned a corset, wig, and garter belt for the 1975 film version of Rocky Horror, back when the differences between “transvestite” and “transsexual” weren’t well-known to the general public. (The first one dresses up like the opposite sex for kicks, the second feels they were born the wrong sex.)
Cox, who has been making big strides in Hollywood lately, can now add another milestone to her list of recent accomplishments: Not only is she the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy and the first to receive her own wax figure at Madame Tussauds, she’ll now also be the first transgender person to prance around in her underwear on network TV in a role made famous by Tim Curry. Variety describes Cox’s role as “a sexually ambiguous flirtatious alien mad-scientist,” which sounds similar to the original Frank-N-Furter; she isn’t really a singer, though, aside from the occasional karaoke performance. So presumably some adjustments are being made. We’re willing to give Cox the benefit of the doubt, but if they cast Ed Sheeran as Eddie we’re out.