Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

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Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:15pm

The last time we saw Chris Cooper he was rapping in "The Muppets," but he'll return to his more reliable dramatic form coming on board "August: Osage County" with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, who basically have already made it Oprah's favorite movie of all time by their mere presence together. He joins the recently cast Andrea Riseborough in the an adaptation of Tracy Letts' ("Killer Joe," "Bug") Tony award-winning play about the relationship between a drug addicted family matriarch Violet (Streep) and her daughter Barbara Fordham (Roberts). The latter is reeling from the revelation that her husband is cheating on her, but the entire family comes together when the patriach of the clan goes missing, and dramatic things happen. Cooper will play Streep's brother in law, John Wells ("The Company Men") is directing, production starts in August and we'll see you at the Oscars in 2014.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/chris-cooper-moves-to-august-osage-county-james-woods-signs-up-for-white-house-down-20120709

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:19pm

Yowza. Finally, a piece of exciting casting out of this project.

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Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:21pm

This cast is shaping up to be pretty exciting.

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:25pm

That got my attention!

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:29pm

Cooper is perfectly cast as Charlie. Meryl Streep has gone on record saying he's her absolutely favorite actor, both to watch and to work with, so I'm not the least bit surprised he wound up involved.

This makes me think someone like Jean Smart would really be perfect opposite him as Mattie Fae.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:34pm

It still breaks my heart that it won't be Kathy Bates as Mattie Fae, i could see Annie Potts as Mattie Fae too though.

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:34pm

It would be great if someone very "un Hollywood" like Jean Smart could get into this film but I doubt that'll happen. But God, it would be marvelous.

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:41pm

Jordan, keep in mind that John Wells comes from a predominately television-heavy background, so I could certainly see someone like Smart winding up on his radar, given the heavy hitters involved elsewhere. If he's already ruled out Kathy Bates, there aren't very many other A-list women who fit the requirements necessary for such a meaty character part (sad, but true.) That's not because the women aren't out there, of course, but because Hollywood doesn't elevate them to that status.

Now that he's involved from a producing standpoint, I'm also curious to see if George Clooney winds up joining the cast as Bill. He'd be terrific, and he has a rich enough history with Julia Roberts that they'd be great playing such a complex relationship with one another.

Updated On: 7/9/12 at 05:41 PM

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:41pm

Do we know it wont be Kathy Bates? While I love Meryl, I thought Sissy Spacek would be a nice Violet. Could she play Mattie Fae?

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#10

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:42pm

jamie, as was discussed in another thread, Kathy Bates tweeted a few months ago that John Wells passed on casting her because of what he believes is a lack of a familiar resemblance between her and Meryl Streep.

#11

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:46pm

Ah what a shame!

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

Updated On: 7/9/12 at 05:46 PM

#12

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:51pm

I, too, had rooted for Sissy as Violet. Hell, I thought Bates would've been a good Violet, too. I think the resemblance issue is a sad one (those sisters in CRIMES OF THE HEART weren't exactly look-alikes). But I bet there's a wild card for Mattie Fae.

What about Margo Martindale?

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

#13

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 5:53pm

Carol Burnett would have been a terrific Mattie Fae!

#14

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:03pm

On what planet?

Also, my favorite phrase in the article is "and dramatic things happen."

I know you. I know you. I know you.

#15

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:21pm

Seriously- if Kathy Bates, who's about as perfect for this part as one can get, wasn't cast because of a lack of family resemblance with Streep, Carol Burnett would never be cast. Besides, she's simply too old to be playing Mattie Fae.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#16

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:28pm

Team Martindale!! (though she fits in the "no resemblance" category. Team Smart is also a great idea!

I REALLY wanted Sissy as Violet and Laura Linney as Barbara though, so what do I know?

#17

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:29pm

Yeah at this point Burnett would have to be Violet or nothing, i think she would certainly be interesting in the role as i have heard august referred to as a mix of Carol Burnett sketch and serious drama.

#18

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:38pm

Been hearing that Andrea Riseborough had to pass on the role due to scheduling conflicts

#19

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:40pm

Burnett is 79. Ten years ago she was too old.

Margo Martindale will be 61 next week but reads younger. I'd cast her in a heartbeat, as she will land the reality as much as the humor.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

#20

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:44pm

I misread that as Chris Colfer and I was about to get all stabby.

#21

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 6:59pm

I've been thinking. How was Elizabeth Ashley on Bway? I think she would be "name" enough.

I know you. I know you. I know you.

#22

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 7:16pm

Elizabeth Ashley was a disaster, in my opinion. Totally cartoony. I hope they keep her far away from this film project.

Too bad about Kathy Bates, who would have been perfect. I don't even agree with that reason, either. Rondi Reed looked nothing like Deanna Dunagan, and it didn't seem to matter.

#23

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 9:26pm

I'm a bit annoyed by Wells rejecting Bates based on her lack of resemblance to Streep, it's not like Julia Roberts looks anything like Streep, though part of me hopes that this attempt to seek actors who might be related will result in Jennifer Ehle getting cast as Ivy.
The casting of Chris Cooper couldn't be more brilliant and wonderful, he's gonna be fantastic in this, though I don't think Charlie is as big of a role as others, maybe they'll develop him a little more in the film.
I do like the idea of Clooney as Bill, and wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#24

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 9:45pm

If they want someone to play Ivy who looks like the other women in the film thus far, they should be going after Jennifer Connelly. Her and Roberts could easily play sisters, and she'd be perfect in the role.

#25

Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

Posted: 7/9/12 at 9:50pm

So if they are going for resemblance to Streep than Jean Smart would be the logical course even though Martindale (Who I have been saying should get the part for months) would be perfect, but is not a strong resemblance to Streep. But hey, if Lily Tomlin can play her sister I am sure she can too.

"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-

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