February 25, 2005 John Travolta to play Hairspray's drag mother Edna Turnblad? They're making a movie of the Tony award winning Broadway musical "Hairspray," the show based on the John Waters movie "Hairspray." In the original Divine played Edna Turnblad. On Broadway Harvey Fierstein played Edna Turnblad. And who will be playing Edna Turnblad in the movie adaption of the musical adapted from the movie? Variety reports John Travolta "has the inside track." New Line Cinema's Neil Meron, who is co-producing the film with Craig Zadan, told Variety, "We're exploring everything, and all our opportunities are open. The best people (will) get the job." Filming begins in September