Osage County will be adapted to the screen — Page 2

The Broadway cast is brilliant, but it's not a realistic option to keep them for the film. Whomever lands up producing and directing this will probably need at least one or two more commercial names -- it's just a safer bet.

Two recent examples: "Rent" and "The History Boys" -- both had (more or less) their original stage casts, and both films were duds at the box office.

I agree with Patricia Clarkson!

But actually, you know who would be REALLY good? Amy Morton

I could see Christine Applegate in the Mariann Mayberry role...

I don't know why, it just came to me.

I would KILL to have Judy Davis play Violet! I think Laura Linney is an interesting choice for Barbara but I love it. Isn't Dakota Fanning a little young for Jean?

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I bet you could cut a bit from the first 30 minutes of the play without losing a whole lot. Some of that dialogue is to help the audience get their bearings and in film you can establish that stuff a lot faster. I can't wait to see how well the phone call scene translates in Frost/Nixon, I really don't care about Doubt (though I liked the play) but this will be the play I'm most looking forward to seeing on the big screen.

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what about Lily Tomlin as Violet?

Laura Linney is good at one thing... playing herself. I want to see an actress who can take up Amy Morton's wonderful work and make it her own while still staying true to the character. I hope that if she gets it, she surprises me... but I don't think she will.

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I must say, this is a damned intelligent thread. All of these ideas are wonderful. It's a question of chemistry, isn't it? Who would be good in what combo? My own feeling about Fonda is, she's almost too old -- not that she looks it. I think Violet reading in her early 60s works best (script says 65).

I'd vote for Sissy. (Does anyone remember her extraordinary if overlooked performance in THE STRAIGHT STORY?) I think she'd be stunning. And she'd absolutely capture the humanity in the rage, and the humor. Meryl can do anything, sure, but this seems less likely to be her metier.

Lily Tomlin is such a good idea, I wish they'd consider putting her in to the Broadway production with Deanna leaves. She has the stage legs and would absolutely work.

Makes me wish Robert Altman was around to direct the film.

How about the men? John C. Reilly? Beau Bridges? Jeff Bridges? Rip Torn? Even Steve Carell (the Kerwin part)? They could all have roles.

And for Little Charles? The guy who plays Randy on EARL?

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I think JUDY DAVIS would be 100% hands down PERFECT as Violet!

I like Laura Liney or Allison Janney as Barbara as well.

So I'd be totally excited to see this as a movie, providing they kept the brilliance from the stage, but can I just ask what is the sudden need for anything successful on Broadway to be made into a movie.

I mean there have been talks about Spring Awakening, this, and now Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I'm all for making the wonderful work available to a larger audience, but it seems that the minute it is reported that a show recouped its investment there are questions of a film.

Has anyone else noticed this or find it interesting?