OTHER DESERT CITIES Film Casting

With all the fun that was had dream casting the AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY film on this board, a recent post on ATC makes me curious as to who everyone here would like to see cast in the forthcoming OTHER DESERT CITIES film adaptation.

If, for the sake of discussion, we exclude the actors in the stage version (some of whom could very well end up in the movie,) I'd love to see:

Jessica Lange as Polly
Gene Hackman as Lyman
Laura Linney as Brooke
Diane Keaton as Silda
Mark Ruffalo as Tripp

I'm sure the role of the unseen brother in the stage version will be expanded into a principal character for the film for flashback sequences.

Is Meryl Streep as Polly inevitable? Not in terms of appropriateness, of course, but in terms of the push from the studio. Between DOUBT, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, and ANGELS IN AMERICA, it seems like she's snatched up every plum role for a woman of a certain stage in every prestigious stage-to-film adaptation of the last few years. MAMMA MIA! could even go on that list just for sheer magnitude of the role alone. This role doesn't seem right for her, but neither does Violet Weston and look how that turned out.

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Updated On: 2/25/12 at 07:12 PM

In a recent interview at the end of last year, Hackman alluded to the slight possibility of him coming out of retirement if the right project presented itself. It seemed like a "never say never" situation. Considering his final movie (as of now) was WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT with Ray Romano, I'm thinking we may see him go in front of the camera one last time before he's truly through.

That being said, Dustin Hoffman would also make for an interesting Lyman, though I don't think you can find anyone who fits it as perfectly as Hackman does.

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Updated On: 2/8/12 at 07:25 PM

Streep, for me, lacks some of the sass of Polly. Though she's perfect in practically everything, I'd say she's far from the most obvious choice for a film of ODC.

(On another note, I'd hate to see ODC put on film anyway. They'd need to do some real stretching to make that paper-thin plot and Lifetime movie script work on the big screen.)

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^ I like that cast.

Janey would play the role well, but she seems a little young to have three adult children.

Tilda Swinton could be an interesting Brooke. I found the character very unlikable, but Swinton does a good job of taking those hard to like roles and turning out splendid performances.

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Or Hilary Swank, even.

I'd be very happy with the Broadway cast, but here goes:

Tommy Lee Jones as Lyman, Ann-Margret as Polly, Charlize Theron as Brooke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Trip, Judy Davis as Silda

^I agree that she'd be very good. But, Jordan, Sandra is only four years younger than Tilda Swinton. I also think Catherine Keener would be excellent. Although she's a year older than Tilda.

Polly Wyeth: Jessica Lange

THIS!

I think Andrew Garfield plays too young for Tripp, especially if he's Jessica Lange's (who by the way is amazing casting) son.

But


Polly Wyeth: Elizabeth McGovern
Lyman Wyeth: Hugh Bonneville
Brooke Wyeth: Michelle Dockery
Tripp Wyeth: Dan Stevens
Silda Grauman: Penelope Wilton

Or as a border patrol officer.

It would be amazing!

Henrik, you obviously don't watch DOWNTON ABBEY.

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I suggested Jessica Lange at the onset of this thread. She'd be phenomenal.

Love your idea of Vera Farmiga, AC.

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