America, meet your new Sandy and RIzzo.
Fox has cast Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens as Sandy and Rizzo in its upcoming musical special “Grease: Live,” the network announced at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena on Saturday.
The network also said that it had cast “True Blood” alum Joe Manganiello, “Glee” star Lea Michele, Keke Palmer and Abigail Breslin in the upcoming Ryan Murphy-Brad Falchuk anthology series “Scream Queens,” with Ariana Grande signing on for a recurring role.
“Grease: Live” will premiere January 31, 2016, while the 15-episode “Scream Queens” will premiere in the fall.
“Dancing With the Stars” vet Hough will play Rydell High newcomer Sandy, while “High School Musical” alum Hudgens will take on the role of bad girl Rizzo in the live “Grease” special.
“‘Grease’ is one of the movies that made me want to be an entertainer, and I have literally been waiting my whole life to play Sandy,” said Hough. “My siblings and I watched it and played it out over and over when we were kids. This is my dream role and performing it live on television will be one of the most thrilling opportunities I’ve had in my career so far.”
“Being Rizzo is something I’ve never imagined, and I love that because it will be a new challenge,” added Hudgens. “She is such an iconic character that continues to transcend generations. I cannot wait to bring her to life on live television. I’m going to be a Pink Lady!”
The special, based on both the musical and Paramount’s 1978 big-screen adaptation, will be executive produced by Marc Platt.
“Scream Queens,” from “Glee” creators Murphy, Falchuk and Ian Brennan, had previously cast Emma Roberts (who stars in Murphy and Falchuk’s FX anthology series “American Horror Story: Freak Show”) and Jamie Lee Curtis.
The first installment of the anthology series will revolve around a college campus which is rocked by a series of murders. In addition to Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan, Dante Di Loreto will executive produce the series.