It’s a little shocking to realize that filmmaker and King of smut, John Waters (“Pink Flamingos”), hasn’t made a feature film effort since 2004’s “A Dirty Shame.” That said, things appear to be on the upswing, and the filmmaker seems optimistic about getting his next two movies made in the near future after a twenty-year hiatus.
Over the weekend in Los Angeles, Waters hosted a candid commentary for his first two short films (“Hag In A Black Leather Jacket” and “Roman Candles”) at the Academy Museum. During that event (via Variety), Waters confirmed recent rumors that Aubrey Plaza (“Emily The Criminal”) would play compulsive kleptomaniac Marsha Sprinkle in his movie “Liarmouth” based on his novel of the same name. Additionally, Waters is still trying to get his long-in-the-works Christmas comedy, “Fruitcake,” made as well.
“My last film was 20 years ago, but I’ve been paid to write six other ones in that time,” he told the Los Angeles crowd. “Four different sequels to ‘Hairspray’; [Christmas comedy] ‘Fruitcake,’ which has gone through a couple of versions that still might happen; and ‘Liarmouth,’” based on his 2022 novel.
READ MORE: Ethan Coen’s ‘Honey Don’t!’ Will Star Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza & Chris Evans
Waters went into a little more detail about the status of “Liarmouth,” though he stressed he doesn’t have financing yet. “The book was optioned. I turned in the script. They like the script, but we don’t have the money to make it,” Waters, who confirmed that Aubrey Plaza will star, said. “I’m thrilled that she’s going to [star in it], but we don’t have the money yet,” he said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, and so I’m trying to get ‘Fruitcake’ going too. We’ll see.”
Here’s the official logline for the “Liarmouth” novel penned by Waters via Macmillian Publishers:
Marsha Sprinkle: Suitcase thief. Scammer. Master of disguise. Dogs and children hate her. Her own family wants her dead. She’s smart, she’s desperate, she’s disturbed, and she’s on the run with a big chip on her shoulder. They call her Liarmouth—until one insane man makes her tell the truth.
Waters admitting he’s having “Liarmouth” funded despite a star like Plaza attached speaks to the difficulty of getting indie films off the ground these days. Hopefully, something comes together, though. While it’s great he’s at least been paid, no one wants to see a legend like John Waters go through a 20-year filmmaking drought. Fingers crossed, he hits some luck in the next few months.