John Waters Knows Exactly What the 'First Paragraph' of His Obituary Will Say About His Career (Exclusive)

For nearly six decades, John Waters has been making audiences laugh, scream and think.

Since making his first short film in 1964, the iconic Trash Pope has pushed the boundaries with hugely successful (and often controversial) works like Hair spray and Pink flamingos — making the late drag queen Divine a star in the process — to fan favorites like Crybaby and Serial mom.

From establishing his own collective of Dreamland actors, including Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole, Pat Moran and others, to casting famous faces like Johnny Depp, Kathleen Turner, Christina Ricci and Selma Blair in his films, Waters has undeniably become a Hollywood legend without ever completely moved out of his native Baltimore.

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Selma Blair and John Waters in Beverly Hills in March 2024.

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A-list actors still ask to work with him today. Aubrey Plaza has officially been cast as the lead in the 2022 film adaptation of his book A liar — despite the film currently not having a production company to actually execute the project.

Waters has not directed a film since 2004 Dirty shame, but he has since received a good portion of his flowers. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last year, and the Academy Museum has dedicated an ongoing 12-gallery exhibition to his cultural contributions.

Amid preparations to return to host the Mosswood Meltdown punk music festival in Oakland, Calif., in July, PEOPLE spoke with Waters about the potential A liar film, which he regrets the most and what he predicts his obituary will say about his career.

John Waters in New York.

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Your fans, myself included, have been buzzing about the potential A liar movie. Any updates?

Every time I talk about it, it becomes news and there is nothing new. We don’t have the money for that, period. That is the answer today.

How is John Waters struggling to get financing for a film after so long in the industry? I mean, you have the Academy Museum exhibit.

Because have you seen what the film business is going through? Nobody can make a movie unless it’s a very commercial $90 million movie.

What do you think about people like Kevin Costner and Francis Ford Coppola investing millions in their own movies?

Well, I think it’s great that Francis did that. I wonder what his children feel about their inheritance. It received a standing ovation at Cannes, even from people who might not have liked the film, all for it. I don’t have $140 million to invest. They always say, never put your own money into your movie, and I somewhat agree with that. I did in the old days. I collected the money, and I personally owe it to the people, and all those people got their money back. Not all studies are later, but that’s their business.

John Waters.

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It’s not something you necessarily have control over.

No, but most of my films are still in print and all of them were much better than when they came out.

A lot of people are just excited to see what happens with you and Aubrey Plaza.

Oh, she wants to do it, I want her to do it, but we don’t have a dime to pay her. It’s all a story. That’s speculative. For now, we are not shooting the film because we don’t have anyone who has agreed.

Are there any other actors you haven’t worked with that you would dream of hiring?

Of course. But they will be in this movie, so I can’t talk about that yet. Yes, there are plenty of them. I’ve always loved Meryl Streep. I met her. She never said, “Let’s meet.”

John Waters in Toronto in 2004.

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You are known as a great reader. Would you ever adapt someone’s book into a movie?

Never. I’ve never even read a script that I didn’t write. The fun for me, if there is any fun at all, is figuring it out. I wouldn’t know how to direct other people’s stuff. I’m a writer. Once I figure out, “Oh, now I have to do it.” A lot of it for me is screenwriting. Then, I played out all the characters in my mind for a year before we even arrived. Those who get roles, stars, never have to read. Only, if they ever use the word ‘travel’, I never hire them.

Why is that?

I hate that word. It’s overused, especially in LA. You are not on a trip. People fleeing Ukraine are on a journey, not a conquest [Independent] The reward of the spirit.

When you look back on your career, which film do you think you will remember the most?

When I die, the first paragraph will be Hair spray and then Pink flamingos.

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John Waters and Divine.

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What do you think you are you should what is he most remembered for?

They are all exactly the same to me. I think it’s my best film Serial mom. The best Divine movie is Women’s troubles. But Pink flamingos still caused the most trouble. They are all the same to me. They have the same message — “Mind your own business. Turn what people use against you into style and you’ll win.” Every movie talks about it.

Do you have any regrets about your career?

One regret in my life is smoking cigarettes. That’s terrible. I know many of my friends are dying of cancer right now.

How long have you been smoking?

Oh, I haven’t lit a cigarette in 7,782 days — roughly. I write down every day. But I smoked five packs a day. Not always, but long enough. Camel Cools. Oh, even when I say the word, I cough.

John Waters in Los Angeles in March 2024.

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You have always been reserved about your personal life. Is that a decision you made early in your career?

I always have because none of my boyfriends have ever been in public. They don’t want to be, and I like that. I don’t want a boyfriend who is dying to walk the red carpet. And they don’t want me to talk about it, so I never have. I am friends with all my exes. I don’t think there were that many – four or five in my entire life. I’m not denying it, but I’m not giving you the details because they don’t want to.

Is there anything at this point in your life and career that your fans would be quite surprised to know about you?

Well, I wouldn’t tell you, PEOPLE magazine, that I was keeping a secret. I know PEOPLE is a place you can come to, but if you tell secrets and they treat you fairly. Every time a star is in a scandal, a real media agent will tell her to go to the PEOPLE. I would too.

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