John Cameron Mitchell Talks About The Future Of ‘Hedwig’

Last month, Hedwig and the Angry Inch co-creator John Cameron Mitchell stepped back into the role he originated 17 years ago, sending fans of the musical straight to cult heaven. In a new interview with Time Out New York (link below), Mitchell discusses everything from the show's longevity to who else he'd like to see play Hedwig, and his plans for a sequel, which involves the word miniseries. 

What initially inspired you to consider reviving Hedwig?
It started out that Stephen [Trask, songwriter for Hedwig] and I did a [Hedwig] concert in Korea for 8,000 screaming girls. There was even a reality show to cast it. Famous people do it there and they're all very attractive, fit, young, straight men and they're really into it. I suddenly was Justin Bieber there—not quite—but I was met at the airport by a group of fans and chased down the street. We had a blast and we were like, We should do it in some way again. 

Were you the only one starring in the concert?
I was singing with 12 of the guys who played Hedwig there, 12 boy-band Hedwigs, and it was very exciting. I was in full Korean drag at one point, doing the songs in Korean, because I always try to sing in the language wherever I'm performing.  

If you could cast your dream Hedwig, who would it be?
I would love to see Justin Timberlake do it. He's such a good actor and obviously he's an incredible entertainer musically. I originally thought Robert Downey Jr. would be amazing because he's a really good singer and looks great in makeup. Even a woman—I'm open to whatever works. I think it was right to open with a man but it might be interesting to do it with the right woman. Androgyny—I mean, Tilda Swinton would be amazing if she can sing rock & roll. 

I read that you and Stephen are working on a sequel to Hedwig. Is it a show?
I sort of see it like Olive Kitteridge, like a long miniseries, four to six hours. It's still a musical; it's very much about her. It's kind of on indefinite hold now because of other projects, but it's been developed a good deal. It's darker. It's about the second half of her life, which is the antithesis of “It Gets Better” videos—for her, it gets worse. My favorite playwright is probably Samuel Beckett and; he was always laughing at the abyss. When Hedwig returns, it will definitely be about the limitation of life and how absurd that is.

Attention Broadway producers, please, please, please, please, please reach out to Tilda Swinton to take over the role when JCM leaves. That would be incredible. 

Via Time Out New York