Adam Shankman, ‘Hairspray’ Director, Checks Into Rehab For Treatment


Filmmaker Adam Shankman, the man responsible for directing the Hairspray remake and Rock of Ages, has checked into rehab.

Although it’s unclear why the director decided to seek treatment at an undisclosed facility, a representative recently confirmed that Shankman was getting professional help. It’s also unknown how long the filmmaker will stay at the center.

“Adam Shankman is currently seeking treatment in a rehabilitation center. His friends and family support him and wish him well on his journey to recovery,” his rep told Us Weekly.

The director’s trip to rehab comes as a bit of a shock. According to The Huffington Post, Adam Shankman was all smiles at TrevorLIVE in Hollywood on December 8. The filmmaker serves as director and executive producer for the event that benefits crisis intervention group The Trevor Project.

Founded in 1998, the non-profit organization reaches out to “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth” who are considering suicide. The group also operates “The Trevor Lifeline,” a national hotline staffed by trained counselors.

While Adam Shankman is known for directing the musicals Hairspray and Rock of Ages, his talents don’t stop there. The filmmaker also helmed Vin Diesel’s The Pacifier, The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, and Cheaper by the Dozen.

The Inquisitr previously reported that Shankman was in talks to re-team with Vin Diesel on the upcoming comedy The Machine. The project was penned by Reno 911 veterans Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, the guys responsible for writing The Pacifier.

The film would serve as the director’s first big-screen endeavor following the box office flop Rock of Ages. The Machine tells the story of several kids who stumble across a robot (Diesel) that was specifically designed as a weapon by the Pentagon.

Although Rock of Ages wasn’t a success with moviegoers, Shankman seemed very happy with the finished product. He told TheaterMania last year that the film’s soundtrack was apparently filled with the sort of music he listened to growing up.

The filmmaker and choreographer explained:

“This music was basically in the background of my life. I was listening to Prince, George Michael and Janet Jackson in the 1980s. That was kind of more my thing. However, this movie takes place right in the zenith of MTV, when they were still only playing music videos. I was a big MTV watcher, and every other music video was one of these bands, from Van Halen and Whitesnake to Guns N’ Roses. So it was all music that I knew incredibly well. And I was going to Journey concerts and Foreigner concerts.”

Are you surprised that Adam Shankman checked into rehab?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

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