Cult classics have always had extremely dedicated and intense followers, and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is no exception. Although it received critical reviews when it was initially released, people gradually began to appreciate the campiness and absurdity of the movie until it gained a loyal fan-base. Therefore, when FOX Broadcasting announced that they would be remaking this sci-fi musical film, there were mixed results. Normally when something is remade, the biggest issue amongst fans is whether or not the casting will do story justice. Fans always develop connections between actors and characters, so when the character is to be played by a new person, things can get messy.

Although the project is not airing until Halloween night, the cast list has been released, garnering media attention because of the decisions. The FOX production is star-studded and loaded with talent, but that has not stopped people from complaining about the casting. A more complete cast list can be found here, but the most talked-about decision has been Laverne Cox in the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter. Cox, known for her role on the Netflix original series "Orange Is The New Black," is gaining media attention for many reasons relating to the history of the role and her own identity.

First of all, Dr. Frank N. Furter is a flamboyant character who is sexy and mysterious, but also known for being a transsexual, as he sings about it in his most famous song titled, “Sweet Transvestite”. Historically, Frank N. Furter has most-often been played by a man in drag ever since the role was originated by Tim Curry, on stage and in the film. Although the character has male pronouns, he dresses like a woman for nearly the entire show. In fact, the spectrums of gender and sexuality are explored throughout the whole show for nearly every character.

Gender and sexuality are meant to be a mere suggestion in the show, and this is made very clear by the character of Frank N. Furter, who adheres to no gender or sexuality norms. Still, actors playing Frank N. Furter have always been predominately male, especially in professional and high-profile productions. Laverne Cox is a woman and therefore is becoming a controversial casting choice due to the publicity the production is getting.

But Laverne Cox is not just a woman. She is a transgender woman, meaning that she was born biologically male but identifies as a female. Cox has had media attention for this in the past and is an inspiration to the transgender community as she has become more famous for her role as a transgender female in a woman’s prison on "Orange Is The New Black," However, many die-hard Rocky Horror fans are finding it hard to accept her in the role of the doctor, because of the historical norm of casting a man.

The subject has had even more spotlight because of the recent release of a trailer for the show. Despite all the controversy surrounding her casting, Cox remains as excited as ever to play the role. She even received Tim Curry’s blessing after performing for him in rehearsals and is getting advice on the role from him throughout the process, as Curry will be in the production himself as the criminologist.

There have been many reasons for dispute over Cox’s casting, as the issue relates both to the world of casting and entertainment as well as the LGBTQ+ community. On one hand, there are people who think that because Cox is a transgender woman in real life being cast as a cross-dressing man in the show will degrade the transgender population as a whole, belittling the difference between transvestites and transgender people.

On the other hand, loyal fans of the show are disappointed with the choice, as Cox is not a man, and does not have the acting experience to take on such a flashy role as Frank. As a performer myself, I have always held the belief that all roles should be available to all actors, regardless of race, gender and sexuality. As actors, we should be willing to take roles that are different from ourselves and find the similarities in the nuances of the character as we rehearse.

Laverne Cox is an extremely talented performer and was obviously cast as Dr. Frank N. Furter because of her talent and ability. Mainstream viewers and media should be able to separate the character from the actor. After all, we don’t really think that Christian Bale is Batman or that Daniel Radcliffe can perform magic from "Harry Potter." Therefore, Laverne Cox is not a man or a transvestite. She is simply playing the role of one, while in reality she is a transgender woman.

I believe that instead of being paranoid that her casting will spur discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community, the "Rocky Horror" and theatre community, or Cox herself, we should use this opportunity to educate people about the spectrums of gender and sexuality. Personally, when thinking about what new developments Laverne Cox will bring to the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter, I shiver with antici……..

…..pation.