Other Desert Cities Film Version

With Other Desert Cities film version being currently in development do you think there is a chance for any Off and/or Broadway original cast members to reprise their roles in the movie? I know that it is very unusual for stage actors to get roles in film adaptations, but Linda Lavin, Judith Light, Stacy Keach and Oscar nominees Stockard Channing and Rachel Griffiths are not exactly last names in the business.
Anyway, who would you like to see being cast in the film version?

Let me take a stab-Meryl Streep & Julia Roberts will play Polly and Brooke.

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It’s quite ironic that an actress, who got rather terrible reviews during her one-time 2006 Broadway stand, landed two back-to-back starring roles in film adaptations of two of the most critically acclaimed plays of American modern theater.
Well, at least Ryan Murphy cast Ellen Barkin in his new TV show if it’s any consolation.

Brooke - Catherine Keener or Sandra Bullock
Lymon - Albert Finney
Polly - Ann-Margret
Silda - Jessica Walter or Olympia Dukakis
Trip - Jason Bateman

I can see Glenn Close play any role. Just give her something already. I do understand that unless your name is Meryl Streep or Helen Mirren is next to impossible to land a decent film role for an actress over 60, but Close can't get any film role at all. She was attached to Thérèse Raquin for almost a decade just to be replaced by Jessica Lange right before the shooting. I don't get what's the deal, is she difficult to work with?

Polly - Stockard Channing
Lyman - John Travolta
Silda - Olivia Newton John
Brooke - Michelle Pfeiffer
Trip - Maxwell Caulfield

In a previous thread, I suggested Jessica Lange for Polly, Gene Hackman for Lyman, Mary-Louise Parker for Brooke, Mark Ruffalo for Trip, and Diane Keaton for Silda.

As I said then, Meryl Streep becoming attached is probably inevitable, but she's a much better fit for Silda than she ever would be for Polly.

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Updated On: 4/28/12 at 06:49 PM

I would argue that Sarandon, too, is way more of a Silda than she is a Polly (and a pretty ideal Silda at that.) Whoever plays Polly has to have a very heightened element of sophistication, and Sarandon screams earthy to me.

While I maintain that Lange is as ideal casting as one could hope to find for the role, Sally Field and Annette Bening also come to mind as terrific contenders, particularly the latter. You could even have Bening play opposite Warren Beatty as Lyman. That would sure be fun.

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Updated On: 4/25/12 at 10:10 PM

Joan Allen as Polly would also be insanely great.

"I really hope they take some of these great A-lister suggestions into consideration for replacements on Broadway. I'd kill to see Lange or Parker tackle these roles on stage."

^THIS. THIS. A THOUSAND TIMES THIS.

Joan Allen: Chilly, maybe brilliant. Polly is a role that will be interesting to watch as it changes hands.

How about a woman long absent from the stage (I know everyone will say a Silda) Mercedes Ruhl?

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The play already appears to be struggling with an arguably starry group of actors. Considering The Booth is highly desirable real estate, I don't see it running past the summer, when the original cast will all be ready to depart.

On the plus side, it's getting produced at virtually every regional theater in America next season, so we'll certainly have the opportunity to see other great actors play these roles. Women like Dianne Wiest, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey, Christine Lahti, Kate Burton, and Deirdre O'Connell who so regularly work on stage come to mind as candidates I'd love to see take the piece on as it begins to have a wider life outside of New York.

Auggie27, in addition to doing THE AMERICAN PLAN on Broadway in 2009, Mercedes Reuhl (yes, a complete and total Silda) was also in THE HOW AND THE WHY by Sarah Treem at the McCarter Theater in January of last year. She's hardly been "long absent from the stage," but she has been semi-retired from film and television the last few years in order to concentrate on raising her son, who has special needs. She was set to be a series regular on the forthcoming season of LUCK on HBO before it was cancelled abruptly a couple months ago, but she just filmed a pilot for FOX that is garnering some nice buzz, so she's slowly returning to a more consistent work schedule.

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Updated On: 4/25/12 at 11:41 PM

Jessica Lange as Polly, Susan Sarandon as Silda, Sandra Bullock as Brooke, Mark Ruffalo as Trip and Jack Nicholson as Lyman.