MERYL STREEP To Star In MAMMA MIA! Movie??- Page 4

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:31pm

You can also hear Streep sing in "Alice at the Palace" on dvd...if it's still available.

Streep could def. handle the vocals of Lovett, but it isnt going to happen, so I'll have to go on with my life.

This will still be a better film with her in the lead.

What is wrong with getting an unknown for Sophie?

[Piercemn]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:35pm

Oh, great. Another movie for her to smirk her way through. Don't people realize that she's the most pretentious and tediously phony person to appear on the screen since Ginger Rogers? She's at the top of my list of "Why do they have a career?" The only movie she's ever been good in is Death Becomes Her, because she relaxes enough to make an ass of herself.

I generally skip her movies because everyone else acts rings around her and she makes me want to gnaw a limb off! Too bad, Mamma Mia is such a fun show, too!

[Danielm]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:36pm

This is one of the few things that could get me to see this movie. I love ABBA but seeing Mama Mia once was more than enough. And, doodlenyc I think Alice at the Palace is still available. I bought a copy for my mom right before Christmas. It's so much fun and Meryl is wonderful in it.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:38pm

"Rossum can't sing, so that's an issue.
Or at least, if she can, her falsetto-boringness in Phantom surely didn't show it off".

Well in comparison with all the others who are being suggested for this movie she can definetely sing. And in comparison with all the musical actors she has a name and experience in front of the camera.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:41pm

Lots of fun people in it, Daniel...Micheal Jeter, Debbie Allen Mark Linn-Baker and Deborah Rush as well.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:48pm

I am restating Diana Degarmo as Sophie, or maybe Andrea Bowen? I like Cher and Kathy Bates, as well as Kevin Kline and Donny Osmond. How about Bruce Willis as the 3rd guy?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 1:59pm

Just got off the phone with a friend of mine who has a connection at Playtone.

In regards to other options for Donna that didn't work out: Madonna was approached with the idea of starring, but felt the role was "too old" for her and turned it down. They also considered her for Tanya, but she felt that role was "too small;" Olivia Newton-John was considered and apparently delievered a knock out screen test, but the producers felt she wasn't a big enough name and wouldn't sell tickets.

Anne Hathaway is apparently the top choice for Sophie. Several other teeny boppers (like Mandy Moore) are also being considered.

No word on any other casting at this point, but Streep was apparently "very enthusiastic" about taking on the role.

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 01:59 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 2:10pm

I wonder if Madonna will now reconsider the role of Tanya for a chance to star alongside Meryl Streep? It would definitely be good for her acting career.

Too bad about Olivia Newton-John though. I would've loved to see her in another big screen musical. Perhaps she could be the third lady?

I think Tom Hanks' involvement in this film is one big reason Meryl took the part.

As for Sophie, I'm all for Mandy Moore. I love Anne Hathaway but I don't want this movie to feel like I'm watching "Prada".

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 2:13pm

I read a couple of months back in a paper that Madonna had mentioned in her blog that she had been offered the role of Donna and that she was considering it. I don't think it is strange that she says no. She is in the youngest business of them all - the pop industry, and it's a risky project for her to play a woman who had her career in the 70s and who has a grown up daughter who is about to get married, all while singing ABBA songs which doesn't fit her image in what will be a very high profile movie.

From an etymological viewpoint it would have been fun though.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 2:23pm

While I am excited about Streep taking on the role of Donna, I hope this doesn't turn the movie into an 'Oscar' project. It should be a summer flick.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 2:44pm

Ok I have som quotes from the bear in ABBA regarding the casting of Streep, taken from TT-spektra via icethesite.com which have translated the text.

Regarding the casting of Streep:

"It means a great deal. It gives the project a stamp of quality.

It feels good, of course. We hadn't dared to consider her because we didn't know if she can sing. But about a month ago when we heard her singing in an old film, we made contact with her.

And when she got the enquiry asking if she wants to be involved she said "Are you kidding? I AM Mamma Mia!".

Björn talked about further casting news.

"We will announce them [other names of the film cast] in the spring. I can't give you any other names today, but we do have big and interesting names.

Mamma Mia! will be the new Sound of Music. At least that's where our ambitions lie," says Björn Ulvaeus and laughs.

Björn and Benny will now re-record the music, but with the same band as in the 70's and 80's. We won't change the music but we will give it a 2007 quality sound. The film will be shot in London and the Greek Isles.

End of quotes.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:00pm

"Olivia Newton-John was considered and apparently delievered a knock out screen test, but the producers felt she wasn't a big enough name and wouldn't sell tickets."

I guess they never heard of a little film called Grease? Seriously, ONJ is inspired casting for this film and I would have LOVED to have seen her make a huge splashy comeback with this. But Meryl's good, too.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:04pm

"As much as I LOVE Meryl, isn't she kinda too good for this project?"

She-Devil, Defending Your Life, Before and After, A Series of Unfortunate Events...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:06pm

Why the hell would you put someone through a screen test and THEN decide they are not a big enough name?

[tazber]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:07pm

as psyched as I am for her to do this, wouldn't it be great if Meryl actually did a musical live?

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 03:07 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:07pm

So when is the projected release date for this movie? Summer 2008?

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:17pm

I've got the movie's forehead-slapping tag line...

"Meryl's back, but this time... 'Sophie's choice' is something WAY different!"

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:21pm

That's great, Best12!

Tazber,

Streep did have a few musical numbers in last summer's MOTHER COURAGE .... and she was remarkable.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:23pm

I'm a little skeptical that actresses were actually put through screen tests. It seems like that would be hard to do without the director even officially signed. Meetings? Sure. Discussions? Probably. But actual screen tests...I'm not sure I buy it.

And again the "blog" entries on the Madonna site were revealed to not be official - but fan postings.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:23pm

Oh. Reason to see the movie.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 3:54pm

like said before

anne hathaway for sohpie. or Emmy Rossum. Maybe Britney Murphy?
Updated On: 1/11/07 at 03:54 PM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:02pm

I like the idea of Brittany Murphy for Sophie.

GASP and if they cast the role that old perhaps they'll cast Jake Gyllenhall alongside her as Sky...

drool....

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 4:12pm

I don't even see the point of a Mamma Mia movie, period. It's a great stage show. But I just don't see it as a movie.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 7:11pm

I was hoping Toni Collette would make her movie musical debut in this film after she didn't get Mrs.Lovett (given her connection with ABBA music in Muriel's Wedding, one of my favorite comedies in which she was of course fabulous).
Streep is a great choice though. I always thought Mamma Mia would work much better as a film than as a stage show. I love ABBA but I do not think their songs should've ever touched the stage, a film does sound like good old-fashioned camp, especially with Streep as the star, she sure knows how to have fun with campy roles.
I also thought Anne Hathaway would be a good choice to play Sophie, but if it's either playing Louise or Sophie, she must hold on to play Louise. I can't think of any movie star more appropriate for that role.
If Cher and Meryl Streep do a movie together again, I'll probably die and go to heaven (like any good old-fashioned gay man).

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 7:29pm

I would love for Anne Hathaway to be Sophie. Anne and Meryl back together again? Fabulous!