You Really Can't Stop the Beat

Talk about your pleasant surprises: New Line Cinema wants John Waters to write a sequel to Hairspray, the hit movie musical based on the stage version of his original film (did you follow that?). All the original creative team will be onboard as well, including director/choreographer Adam Shankman, producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who will pen new tunes for the sequel.

No further details or casting has been announced at this time, although it is hoped that as much of the original cast (including Golden Globe nominees John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky) will return.

As longtime readers of Movie Dearest know, we will certainly be following this project as it develops.

UPDATE: Adam Shankman doesn't know what John Waters has cooked up for the sequel yet, but he has some ideas of his own.

Out in Film: Jerry Mitchell

Idol worship: Jerry Mitchell, actor/dancer/ director/choreographer.

- He began his career as a dancer in such Broadway productions as Brigadoon, On Your Toes and The Will Rogers Follies.

- After assisting dance legend Jerome Robbins, he became a choreographer in his own right with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He received Tony and/or Drama Desk nominations for The Full Monty, The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, finally winning both prizes for the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles.

- Directing was next on his agenda, and he got his chance with the hit Legally Blonde - The Musical. In connection with that show, he can currently be seen on the MTV reality series that is conducting The Search for Elle Woods, and was recently part of another TV talent show, Step It Up and Dance.

- Film work as a choreographer has included the classic tango scene from Scent of a Woman, as well as such other movies as In & Out, The Object of My Affection, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Camp (yes, it's "Turkey Lurkey Time").

- During his chorus boy days, he created the now legendary Broadway Bares annual burlesque shows to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Now celebrating its 18th year, this year's edition, titled Wonderland, will be presented this Sunday. Also new: his book, Backstage Pass: Broadway Bares,all about the show's creation and evolution over the years.

Awards Watch: MTV Movie Awards 2008

Transformers may have snatched the Best Movie prize at the 17th Annual MTV Movie Awards this past weekend, but it was Johnny Depp who was the biggest winner, nabbing two Golden Popcorn awards. Depp was voted Best Villain for his throat-slashing title character in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Best Comedic Performance for his Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The latter was his third MTV Movie Award as the rum-soaked swashbuckler of the blockbuster franchise.

I Am Legend's Will Smith and Juno's Ellen Page took the top performance prizes, while Hairspray's Zac Efron trumped the Superbad boys for Breakthrough Performance. Three 2008 movies, Step Up 2 the Streets, Never Back Down and Iron Man, round out the rest of the winners.

Awards Watch: I Want My MTV

It was a good day for Michael Cera yesterday. The star of Superbad and Juno saw both of his movies from last year nominated for this year's MTV Movie Awards, with a combined total of nine nominations, including three nods for himself. Joining the two comedies in the Best Movie race are I Am Legend, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Transformers (that's right, Toto, we're not at the Oscars any more).

The Enchanted Amy Adams also picked up three nods, and Johnny Depp was nominated for both his Captain Jack and Sweeney Todd. Hairspray cuties Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron are up for Breakthrough Performance (along with Superbad's Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Jonah Hill), but not Best Kiss (!). The biggest headscratcher though is Jessica Biel actually being nominated for her acting (and for I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, no less).

For a quick look at the nominees, see the comments section below, then head over to MTV.com to vote on the awards yourself. The "Golden Popcorns" will be handed out June 1 on, naturally, MTV. Mike Myers will be on hand to shill his upcoming movie The Love Guru ... I mean host.