MERYL STREEP To Star In MAMMA MIA! Movie??

It's at times like these when I wish MovieMusicals.net was ready!!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifccd9970e567b0b1a09eb332f0352f3b
Mother's day for Streep in musical 'Mia!'
By Borys Kit
Jan 11, 2007

Meryl Streep will star in Universal Pictures and Playtone's adaptation of the popular ABBA musical "Mamma Mia!" Theater director Phyllida Lloyd is in negotiations to make her feature directorial debut on the pic, which is being produced by Playtone and Littlestar (HR 1/9).

The story revolves around a bride-to-be and her formerly rebellious mom who raised her on a Greek island and never disclosed the identity of her father. The bride locates three men who might be her father and invites them to her wedding. Streep will play the mom.

The musical, created by Judy Craymer and Catherine Johnson, features 22 ABBA songs, including "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All." The part marks the first musical for Streep, who has showed off her pipes in such movies as "A Prairie Home Companion," "Postcards From the Edge" and "Death Becomes Her."

Producing are Playtone's Gary Goetzman and Littlestar's Craymer. Tom Hanks, Goetzman's partner at Playtone, and Rita Wilson are executive producing along with ABBA members and songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.

The movie's screenplay was written by Johnson, who wrote the show's book.

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Updated On: 1/11/07 at 12:56 AM

double

But I agree: YAAAAY!!!

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Updated On: 1/11/07 at 01:00 AM

Good for her. I'm not sure how this will work on the big-screen?

"What a sh!tty way to make her musical debut."

That's what I was thinking, but at least she'll be in one now. so that's good enough for me!

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I think the film will be fun, more fun than the stage show, but with the same screenplay flaws of the book.

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She also sings in DEATH BECOMES HER and PRAIRE HOME COMPANION.

I don't think this is a great fit for Streep - I was one of those hoping for Olivia Newton John - but hey...at least it's not Madonna.

Streep also did an amazing singing performance in IRONWEED.

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Don't forget SUSAN SARANDON in ENCHANTED and ROMANCE IN CIGARETTES (both in 2007).

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Oh, God. What a horrid thought.

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Well, I certainly think its become clear that movie musicals require star casting to be succesful. The most succesful movie musicals of late: CHICAGO and DREAMGIRLS have had fabulous marketing campaigns trumpeting the films as "events" - and I think sporting a big cast of names has played a big part in generating audience interest.

I think even with the terrible directors at the helm, if PHANTOM had starred Mel Gibson and RENT had featured Angelina Jolie, they would have done a lot better at the box office.

It remains to be seen how HAIRSPRAY turns out - but I think they have the right idea with their cast. Stars that will appeal to high school kids and others that will draw their middle aged parents.

EDIT: And by most accounts, Streep turned down SWEENEY TODD because of a scheduling conflict.

DOUBLE EDIT: What is HAPPY ENDINGS? Is that the musical about erotic massage at the old Continental Baths?

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 01:42 AM

Well if the story is to be believed Captain - She turned it down because of a scheduling conflict, not because of a lack of interest. If you have other contracts that keep you from being available during the scheduled shooting period - thats pretty much a deal breaker. And they are clearly going to be working around Johnny Depp's availability...

Or she wasn't sleeping with the Director.

I also heard that Streep had a scheduling conflict that prevented her from being able to do SWEENEY.

And it was Brecht & Weill's HAPPY END that Streep did on Broadway about 30 years ago (though HAPPY ENDINGS does sound fascinating).

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