FOX’s ‘Rocky Horror’ Remake Casts Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-n-Furter

Emmy Award-nominated actress and LGBT activist Laverne Cox has landed the role of the flamboyant, sweet transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter in FOX’s upcoming Rocky Horror reimagining.

Most of Cox’s fans know her as Litchfield’s tell-it-like-it-is hairdresser Sophia Burset on the hit Netflix series Orange is The New Black, but we’ll get to see a completely different side of her next year as the iconic, highly sexual mad-scientist alien in the FOX special.

I am so excited that the news is out. I am so honored to be a part of the Rocky Horror legacy.… https://t.co/5guzt7WTyd

— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 22, 2015

The project was announced back in April, and was described by the network as “reimagining of the campy horror feature, which, 40 years after its release continues to play in theaters around the world – the longest theatrical distribution frame for any film in history.”

In case you (somehow) don’t know the story of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, it follows sweethearts Janet Weiss (played by Susan Sarandon in the 1975 film) and Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick), who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Tim Curry) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous flirtatious alien mad-scientist, is holding an annual, Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.

The two hour event will air in Fall 2016 on FOX.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Laverne’s casting in the comments below!

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