Saturday, September 12, 2015

"Florence Foster Jenkins" acquired by Paramount

Among other sources, Deadline is reporting that Paramount Pictures has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Meryl's recently completed film Florence Foster Jenkins.  The shopping grounds were in full swing at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, where a portion of the picture was screened last night for potential buyers.  No word on how much was forked over in the deal.  Apparently it was one of the hottest prospects at the festival.  Directed by the great Stephen Frears, Hugh Grant also stars.  Paramount has not announced exactly when it plans to release the film in cinemas in the U.S., but 2016 seems likely.

Sort of related, also purchased at TIIF this weekend was the movie Miss Sloane, set to be funded by EuropaCorp and ready for production in 2016.  I'm including info on this because the film, to star Jessica Chastain, is evidently about a lobbyist pushing for stricter gun control laws.  This description sounds very similar to a film Harvey Weinstein claimed he wanted to make with Meryl last year entitled The Senator's Wife.  I have been unable to find any info on whether or not this is the same script or completely unrelated.  Regardless, if Miss Sloane ultimately comes to fruition, I don't imagine Meryl being involved in a project that so closely resembles it anytime soon.

                                   

45 comments:

  1. Also I've a bit indecisive with backgrounds lately. The most recent one was just too dreary. Hope you enjoy more color.

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  2. Great new background

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  3. I like the background too. And I noticed that myself about the Jessica Chastain movie... seems like the same premise and even if it isn't it seems too similar for The Senator's Wife to come to fruition anytime soon. I wasn't super excited for the project anyway, I generally don't like overly political films. But it sucks because with literally no official projects to come, this just takes away another possibility. I'm starving to hear anything new.. so pathetic because Meryl just had a release last month, but lets be honest that was a total disappointment. Meryl must have known it too- she literally only spent 2 days promoting it. It just baffles me that some of these other actresses are getting projects left and right while Meryl has nothing on the horizon. Jessica Chastain does like 5 big roles a year while we're lucky if Meryl does just one. I just wish we knew if this dearth of projects was intentional or if she's not being offered anything. I try not to get jealous of other actors on Meryl's behalf but its difficult to see all these exciting projects going on when Meryl's got nothing. We got so spoiled from about 2006-2011 but since then I feel like it's been so slow. Smaller budget films and smaller roles. Ricki was her first real leading role since Hope Springs and I worry that since it flopped now it's going to be even more of an uphill battle for quality roles. I'm still hopeful about Florence but selfishly I'm dying to hear of anything new. Films take so long to come together so not hearing anything even planned is worrisome.

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    1. Meryl still has it better than most of Hollywood and of course she is still on demand. Not as easy to find excellent leading roles for a sixth year old woman though. Honestly- I believe projects are still in the pipeline but are just on hold for the moment due to scheduling etc. ( Follies, Mamma Mia 2, Master Class, The Good House, Cruella De Ville)- regardless- this break for her is well deserved and she has taken them before- 2000-2002 and most recently 2010-2012..... By the time she is campaigning for Florence or even before - I bet she will be filming again and filming a project that she feels passionately about. - Jamie

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    2. Long Winded Pessimist, I'd still argue that Ricki and the Flash is not a "major disappointment." It's made $26 million domestically with a budget of $18 million. The promotion budget had to be rather small, and it's just now opening internationally. When all is said and done, some may call it a modest hit. And Meryl rarely does a ton of publicity for her films, particularly summer flicks. She perhaps knew that it isn't an Oscar-y movie and didn't do a bunch of panels about it.

      The likelihood is that there are 3-5 potential projects already set for possible filming over the next two years. We don't know what scripts she's read or has in mind. I still have hope for The Good House. Florence Foster Jenkins was purchased for $8-10 million yesterday by Paramount based on 7 minutes of film. The remake of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? remake is still listed on her IMDbpro page. Meryl is in a good point in her career right now where almost anyone would be thrilled to work with her (actors, writers and directors) due to her legend status. Great projects will continue.

      Jamie, I suspect that Master Class will never happen, at least not with Meryl. She is no longer listed as attached to Cruella de Vil on IMDb pro. Mamma Mia! 2 is HIGHLY unlikely in my opinion and Follies, while not impossible, may just be a Rob Marshall pipe dream. I want a fantastic director to film what is hopefully a stunning adaptation from Michael Cunningham for The Good House.

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    3. I agree Jamie, it isn't easy to find great roles. I wish Carol had been adapted in the 90s so Meryl could have starred in it, sounds like it will be a brilliant film and a gift of a role!

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    4. I agree Jamie, it isn't easy to find great roles. I wish Carol had been adapted in the 90s so Meryl could have starred in it, sounds like it will be a brilliant film and a gift of a role!

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    5. Carol with Meryl would have been amazing! It's hard to see so many great roles going to Blanchett that I would have loved to have seen Meryl interpret... but I guess that will only get worse as Meryl gets older. And Jeff it just seems like the possibility of most of these potential projects coming to fruition is extremely unlikely and like you said a lot of them have disappeared from her ImdB already...there's really nothing remotely concrete at all... I understand if Meryl wants a break, but this is already a relatively slow year for her in terms of filming (since Masterclass was a no go)- she only had the one project for a few months so really the rest of the year is mostly free. And usually you hear about any really good projects years in advance- it takes so long just to develop these films that it worries me that we haven't even heard of anything in the works. Meryl still "seems" so in demand.. it seems that everyone is dying to work with her so it's baffling she doesn't have more projects in the pipeline.. I mean now that Meryl is over 65, this is an unprecedented opportunity to tell really complex and difficult stories about older women in mainstream cinema- I would think people would be taking better advantage of that.

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  4. The question is will Paramount take a gamble and push it into this years race since they are the only major studio without a big contender or hold it off for next year- IMDb has it being released in the Netherlands January 2016? And rumor has t the movie is completed and ready to go....- Jamie

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    1. I've wondered about this possibility for months. I saw the Netherlands thing too, but The Hollywood Reporter article stated that Paramount is eyeing a 2016 release, which makes sense. I recall last year when Suffragette was listed as premiering in the U.K. in Jan 2015 for a long time. We know that didn't play as expected.

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    2. As desperate as I am to see this since Meryl seems really excited about it, I kind of hope they wait until next year... This years Oscar race is already so crowded for women that I feel she'd have a better shot next year (though it pains me to say that since it means no Meryl at this years Oscars *tear*)

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    3. I remember Jeff speculating on the possibility of 3 musical projects in the one year and it would be exciting to see Florence following Ricki but I agree it's best to space things out. Especially since there is nothing new lined up to film and we will have exposure for Suffragette soon

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    4. Yes, I thought at one time how cool it would be if Meryl were nominated at the Golden Globes in three different categories (lead roles) for playing singers. I too however think Florence is probably best suited for late 2016.

      Ok, here's a far out speculation. Y'all know I'm prone to dreamy possibilities in regard to Meryl's film involvements. The other night I read another article that associated Meryl to Amy Schumer's project about a mother and daughter who are kidnapped while on holiday in Brazil. I sort of started giggling in a devious way when a thought occurred to me. My husband Joe happened to be sitting next to me (poor thing) and I told him that although I have no idea what the scipt is like, what if Meryl actually filmed that movie this fall/winter, and the mom character is actually Brazilian? I did a little research and apparently there are about 90 million white Brazilians, and thought it could almost be something funny written into the script, with Schumer teasing her mom about being a blonde-haired, blue-eyed "Latina." Meryl would get to do a Portuguese accent!

      Joe patted my head and left the room.

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    5. LOL Jeff that's an amusing possibility!

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    6. Long Winded PessimistSeptember 13, 2015 at 5:28 PM

      Is Joe a Meryl fan Jeff or does he just tolerate this passion of yours? haha

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    7. Joe definitely appreciates Meryl's gifts but mostly just tolerates my obsession/passion.

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  5. As this "thread" started with comments about the new background, I'd like to voice my opinion that the disappearance of photos of my great great grandmother's parlour is most welcome. The settees, etc. made the background as cluttered as Jessica Chastain's filming schedule. All that aside, I'd love to see Meryl co-star with Lisa Kudrow. I haven't seen the TV (or is it a computer thing?) series where Meryl was on Lisa's show, but I've read about it and thought it would be a riot. (Sorry... no cinema nearby and the dogsleds only bring in movies once or twice a year.) Perhaps I exaggerate, but... perhaps I don't. When I'm able to get online, I look forward to all the new news from your site. Thanks, Jeff, from Alberta, Canada.

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  6. ut oh...was this the project originally slatted for Streep?
    http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/09/jessica-chastain-to-star-in-miss-sloane-gun-control-drama-directed-by-john-madden/

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    1. If it is the same or similar project then I'm guessing Meryl decided to pass on it rather than her losing out. This isn't the early 90s when Meryl was getting gazzumped for roles! Besides, Meryl is more of a Box Office draw than Chastain so it's unlikely this is a deliberate choice

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    2. As I stated in original post, I'm not sure if it's the same project, but it seems like a VERY similar script. Curious to find out eventually.

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  7. When I first read The Price of Salt (aka Carol), there's only one actress that came to mind - Cate Blanchett for the titular role. No Julianne Moore, no Meryl in her awards prime (80s-90s). I kept visualizing Cate in that role as I digested the pages one by one. Sorry to burst the bubble. I just watched Ricki and I was rather disappointed (not by Meryl but by the script and flow of the film in general). I wish it were better. Having said that, Meryl has been on a roll for a while and we should all be grateful for that. And there's always space for other actresses to shine (like Blanchett who's not only getting raves for Carol but now for Truth (with Redford) as well...she may clinch a double nomination). I think we can only look forward to Florence for now and hope she gets a role as Oscar-worthy as Carol or Truth in the near future. Fingers crossed.

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  8. Rob Marshall and Disney making a sequel to Mary Poppins.... Could this be Streep???- Jamie

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    1. Oh jeeze I hope not. I adore Meryl but comparing her to Julie Andrews in that role? NO.

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  9. Suppose to take place 20 years after the first film and feature all original music... I am convinced that Marshall and Streep got along so well that they are trying to find a project again... Also the same producers and Platt from Ricki and the Flash.... How could she not be their first choice?- Jamie

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    1. Ooo yeah just read the actual article. Marshall definitely wants to work with Streep again. She has to be first choice. I'm skeptical on the project though.

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    2. Long Winded PessimistSeptember 14, 2015 at 6:18 PM

      I'm sorry but this idea seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I hope Meryl stays far far away. In fact I'd prefer if she'd stay away from musicals for a while.No matter how much she likes to sing or how much I love her voice, for some reason there seem to be a lot of people that aren't convinced... and whoever does this role is inevitably going to be compared to Julie Andrews and will be lampooned for not achieving the unattainable.
      Why would Meryl be the first choice here anyway? She's not exactly known for musical theatre... and as much as I idolize her I'm not sure her voice is strong enough to carry an entire film with this type of music. Andrews was only like 29 in Poppins which would mean the character would be around 50 here... that's really pushing it if they want Meryl.
      I mean, as desperate as I am to see Meryl in new projects, I pray to God this isn't one of them.

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    3. I think Meryl would be the first choice for Marshall if it were at all fitting the role. He really wants to work with her again. But I agree, I'd like Meryl to stay away from musicals for a while. I want some intense drama

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  10. I am skeptical as well and I would hate to see Meryl take on such an iconic role.... But could be interesting to see what an older Mary Poppins is about? And they are going to need someone who is a legend to fill these shoes and make the movie a must- see event......

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    1. Haha I think we are all so eager for the next project to announce that we are reading this! I agree with the above comments, I love Meryl has had the opportunities to do some musicals but now I want a proper drama! When she is nominated for Ricki her Golden Globes for Drama vs Musical/Comedy will now be 13-10. Amazing!

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  11. Has to be said that Blanchett's film pedigree is nowhere near Meryl's. Meryl might have had some misfires but that's largely due to critics who just want 'dramatic Streep' hating her for being silly/having some fun/not taking herself too seriously. Blanchett's been in a number of duds ie. The Good German, which were blatant attempts to 'showcase' her versatility. At least we know with Meryl that her taste in scripts has and remains mostly excellent.

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  12. Long Winded PessimistSeptember 15, 2015 at 6:22 PM

    Well I thought I trusted Meryl with scripts as well until Ricki and the Flash... but that script was nowhere near the quality it should have been for a film Meryl is fronting.

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  13. I beg to differ on the above comment that Blanchett's film pedigree is nowhere near Meryl's. She's played Bob Dylan, Queen Liz, Katherine Hepburn, etc...not to mention her critically acclaimed stage roles (which I believe Meryl has watched almost every single one since Blanche DuBois and praised her to the rafters). This is not a competition between the two actresses - they each have their own stamp and style, and it's hard to say which is better. Just look at Blanchett's output for the last few years - Blue Jasmine (a performance for the ages), The Hobbit series (blockbuster), Cinderella (frivolous but singled out by the critics as MVP), Truth (she's on fire - according to critics and audience at TIFF), Carol (another round of raves), and other voice-overs plus lesser films like Knight of Cups and Monument Men. I think other actresses would love to be in Blanchett's position - even Mamie Gummer, Meryl's daughter - said Cate is her favourite actress.

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  14. It frustrates me when people compare the two- it really isn't fair considering Cate is twenty years younger and has the advantage of age on her side. She hasn't had to weather Hollywood post-menopause like Meryl has. Blanchett in my opinion though is really lucking out in terms of getting good roles lately- that's half the battle.. when Meryl was her age her career was kind of in a rut. I really don't understand how anyone can complain about Meryl taking all the good roles. If you ask me Blanchett and Chastain are far more guilty of role hogging... If Meryl was getting the kind of roles Blanchett has been getting recently she too would be getting raves. I don't know why I'm not more of a Blanchett fan. I don't dislike her as a person and I recognize her great talent but I just don't see her in the same high regard as Meryl. It frustrates me to see people hypothesizing about Cate getting a third Oscar this early when Meryl had to wait until her sixties racking up nomination after nomination.

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  15. To put things in perspective, I'm a huge Meryl fan and have watched every single movie she's in (except Giver and Horsesman). But of late, I'm more moved and thrilled by Cate's performances, the same way I felt about Meryl pre-Prada. Yes, she has the advantage of age on her side (she's 48, Meryl's 65?) but I think she's also very clever in terms of navigating her career. She does stage work as often as movies and perhaps the stage work has synthesized her acumen/skills as an actress and it all comes storming back into the movies as evidenced by Blue Jasmine and now Truth & Carol. Long before Cate became a household name, Meryl herself has been citing Cate for her talent (if you've read the early Meryl interviews).She will only get better and if her quality roles keep up with her talent, she will win her 3rd Oscar in this or next decade. Yes it may seem unfair since Meryl only won her 3rd after countless nominations but hey that's life. I also think that in the last few years, Meryl has been doing some over-the-top roles like August, Doubt and Into The Woods and at best only garnered mixed reviews. Compare that to Cate, the latter has consistently been singled out (even if the movie falls short) for her brilliance by critics all over. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to compare the two and it's probably absurd to do so but let's call a spade a spade and my wish is that one day both these titans will get a chance to act together (I'm already orgasmic at this mention!).

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    1. Yes we cannot compare the two but I'm pleased you found so much to like about Blanchett. Can't quite agree that Meryl's roles in those films were over-the-top. I felt they were underrated if anything.

      I really like Blue Jasmine - it's one of the few films I've seen in the cinema recently and whilst I was pleased she got so much acclaim I hardly think the role required much more effort than her other work. It was entertaining but hardly "for the ages".

      BTW Ricki is currently 65 on Rotten Tomatoes. International press is generally more kind than America right now!

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  16. Agreed that while Blue Jasmine was a fantastic performance, I'm not convinced it will be something remembered for a long time. Meryl still has the ultimate cinematic achievement in Sophie's Choice.

    Totally noticed the 65% score too! Lots of good print for Ricki in Spanish language reviews.

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  17. While I respect your opinion on Blue Jasmine, I think it's worthwhile to take note that it is the collective voice of the holy trinity (critics, audience, as well as the actors themselves) that determine whether a performance is for the ages and for that, Cate is already in the running (please kindly Google for varied input). Interestingly, if you look at all the polls/surveys/voices, only 3 living actresses have been singled out in terms of greatest Oscar performances (female) - Meryl in Sophie's Choice, Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose and Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. The rest have long been gone (Vivien Leigh, Bette Davis, etc.).

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    1. Someone saying that a film they just saw is "for the ages" is fine, but the true test is time. Do you really think we'll look back in 20 years and list Blue Jasmine in the top 2-3 performances ever? I don't.

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    2. I actually think she deserved to win for Elizabeth which for me remains her best performance. In 2014 I would have actually given the Oscar to Judi Dench for her wonderful work in Philomena but alas her performance was too low key and not showy enough to gain voting momentum..

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    3. Ugh totally agreed about Elizabeth. Still annoyed about Paltrow.

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    4. Pains me to agree with Quentin Tarantino but while Cate's performances are great they are transient, like many fine things in life. Also, thanks for reminding me of Marion Cotillard's La Vie En Rose performance! Now that I would put in the same class as Sophie Zawistowski

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    5. People may also say it pains them to agree with Katherine Hepburn that Meryl is all 'click, click, click'. We can all cite actors/directors mowing down another's success/talent so it doesn't pass muster. Quentin just has an axe to grind, so does Hepburn.

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  18. Like you say, the true test is time and we'll let history decide on that instead of our quibbling over something that warrants a mandate. I agree BJ may not notch the top 2-3 (that's for Sophie's Choice and Gone with Wind/Streetcar) but I daresay it'll be in the top 10.

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