THE HUMANS Film starring Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein

Big news day! From Deadline:

"A24, IAC and Scott Rudin and Eli Bush are producing a film adaptation of the four-time Tony-winning play The Humans by Stephen Karam. Beanie Feldstein, Jayne Houdyshell (reprising her Tony-winning role), Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer and Steven Yeun will star. Karam will adapt and direct the film version of his play."

I really enjoyed the show when I saw it staged at Pittsburgh Public. The fusion of conventional family drama with intrusive elements of psychological and even supernatural horror really got to me. This is going to be one of those unclassifiable cult films, if they do it right: I can't see it going mainstream and being a tentpole, but it's almost certain to be beloved by art film and genre film fans.

Just occurred to me that the Grandmother character isn't listed in the cast. I wonder if they're trying to get a name, or if the role has been cut? (Glenda Jackson? Angela Lansbury? Judi Dench? Maggie Smith?)

SomethingPeculiar said: "Just occurred to me that the Grandmother character isn't listed in the cast. I wonder if they're trying to get a name, or if the role has been cut? (Glenda Jackson? Angela Lansbury? Judi Dench? Maggie Smith?)"

I’d love to see Estelle Parsons as the Grandmother I think she’d be brilliant

I thought the first 3/4 of the play was pretty terrific, and was lost by the final 1/4 that strove for metaphysical pith and I thought fell way short. By contrast, I thought Sarah Steele was superb and went a long way toward making an iffy evening much more rewarding.

But isn't this a story that's built around 5 or 6 people stuck in ONE APARTMENT for the duration of the script? Not what I would consider a cinematic property by any stretch.

Alex Kulak2 said: "Imagine if they did a thing likeBIrdman,where they cheat it to look like one continuous take. That would be amazing."



How would that be amazing? It takes place in one apartment and plays out in real time. Not even close to what Birdman did. Not to mention, doing it that way would make it seem even more like a play, making the cinematization of the material seem even more unnecessary than it already is.

That's the thing, I don't know how well it would work if they expand it beyond the Thanksgiving Dinner, or set it outside the apartment. The thing that made The Humans special was how thoroughly it communicated the Blake's history, their secrets, and their fears in that one scene.

Also, if the one-take Birdman style doesn't happen, I would be interested to see how Karam would depict the conversations that happen simultaneously in different parts of the house. There's a really striking author's note that says "Life continues in all spaces at all times". I'd be interested to see if Karam will keep that rule in the film, and how he'd translate it.

Someone in a Tree2 said: "I thought the first 3/4 of the play was pretty terrific, and was lost by the final 1/4 that strove for metaphysical pith and I thought fell way short. "

You didn't get the ending either huh

"You didn't get the ending either huh"

Nope, neither I nor any of the friends with whom I saw the OBC. I really wish I could have seen whatever show the Pulitzer committee, Tony committee, et al got to see. Emperor's new clothes indeed.

J.K. Simmons would have been my pick over Richard Jenkins. Multiple Oscar nominee (and winner) with a very fervent fan base, whose roots were on a Broadway stage (we saw him in the '92 revival of GUYS AND DOLLS).

I think the play has its pluses and minuses, but I liked it. And I like Stephen Karam and the cast a lot. So this is great news. Part of the whole effect of the play is the set - the mood that the play creates in the whole environment. I'm sure they have plans in mind, but it will be very interesting to see how they translate this element of the play to the screen where you can't "feel" the set like you can in the play.

Updated On: 3/13/19 at 07:33 PM