LONDON: Actor John Travolta is set to showcase his diverse acting prowess by playing a housewife in the movie version of Hairspray.

This will be his first musical since the 1978 film Grease, according to contactmusic.com. Travolta is preparing to take on the role of Edna Turnbald alongside Queen Latifah, who will play Motormouth Maybelle.

Producer Michael Lynne says: “This is our dream cast for the film. Bringing Travolta back into a musical is so gratifying. They were our genuine first choices for the film.”