Here's your dose of quick news bits for Jan. 6, 2009...

• Regent Releasing has aquired the North American distribution rights for Yojiro Takita's "Departures" (Okuribito), a drama that focuses on a cellist who loses his job and decides to move back to his hometown, where he starts to work as the local undertaker. The film is also Japan's submission for the best foreign film. (Hollywood Reporter)

• Director Adam Shankman talked to MTV about "Hairspray 2." Here's part of what he had to say: “[The treatment] is amazing, but it’s crazy. There are things in there that I was like ‘Can we do that?’ It’s real John Waters-y stuff, and it was more like a sequel to his movie than to our movie. Which I love, because then that becomes re-interpreted.”

• MTV also talked to "Sex and the City" stylist Patricia Field, who talked a bit about the sequel to last year's big-screen adaptation. “I do believe it will happen, because [creator] Michael Patrick King himself told me it’s gonna happen. But I haven’t really received any official information yet,” she said.

• Jay Chandrasekhar recently talked to Movieweb about a sequel to "Super Troopers." Here's some plot info: "We pick up the story essentially right were we left off. Maybe about three months later. We are all working undercover for the lumber industry. What has happened is that there are all of these eco-terrorists that are trying to blow up the lumber mills. And we are there working as security."

Get ready to say good morning to Baltimore again! According to Variety, New Line Cinema is in early stages to develop a sequel to Adam Shankman’s critically acclaimed musical “Hairspray.”

John Waters, writer and director of the original 1988 film, will write a treatment for the movie before the studio hires a screenwriter.

Although the return of the cast from the 2007 version has not been confirmed yet, Shankman is expected to return as director. Also part of the production of the follow-up are songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Last year’s remake received overall positive reviews and pulled in $118.8 million domestically. Shankman said Disney’s “High School Musical” series proved there’s potential for franchises in the musical genre.

Money seems to be one of the primary reasons the producers want to develop a sequel, which is why I don’t think we really need one. What do you guys think? Do you really want to revisit the Turnblad family in Baltimore?