According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Evans (Knives Out, Avengers franchise, Defending Jacob) is in talks to play dentist Orin Scrivello in director Greg Berlanti’s musical feature Little Shop of Horrors from Warner Bros. The project is based on the 1960 film that was adapted into a Broadway musical in the 1980s before the musical was then adapted into the cult 1986 film starring Rick Moranis.
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Little Shop of Horrors is the story of Seymour, a meek florist who works at the aptly named Skid Row Florists, where he is under the thumb of the owner, Mr. Mushnik, but where he also is secretly in love with Audrey, who also works at the struggling shop. Seymour becomes a celebrity when discovers a venus flytrap-looking plant he dubs Audrey II, but his life becomes disastrously complicated when the plant demands to be fed human blood, and then eventually people themselves.
Evans will play the role of dentist Orin Scrivello, Audrey’s abusive and sadistic boyfriend who finds great pleasure in his chosen profession. The role is described as “flashy (the character loves to use laughing gas) and comes with the scene-stealing signature song ‘Dentist!'” Steve Martin played the role of Orin in the 1986 movie.
It was previously announced that Golden Globe winner Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story, Jojo Rabbit) are both in negotiations for lead roles as Seymour and Audrey, respectively. Golden Globe nominee Billy Porter (Pose) is attached to star and will voice the carnivorous plant.
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Berlanti will produce along with Marc Platt and Sarah Schechter. Production is expected to begin this summer.
The 1986 Little Shop of Horrors became a cult classic and received two Oscar nominations for Best Effects, Visual Effects and Best Music, Original Song while the off-Broadway horror comedy rock musical has toured worldwide. Based on the 1960 film, the musical premiered in 1982 and won the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical.
(Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
