Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Streep cast in "Extrapolations" for Apple TV+

Multiple sources are reporting that Meryl has been cast in Scott Z. Burns's upcoming anthology series on climate change, Extrapolations for Apple TV+.  The drama series consists of eight interconnected episodes and is apparently in production. Burns (a fellow University of Minnesota alumnus--go Gophers!) has assembled a wonderful and diverse cast for his series, including Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys, Kit Harrington, Tahar Rahim, Gemma Chan, Adarsh Gourav, David Schwimmer and Daveed Diggs. Burns is best known for his writing, which include the screenplays to The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant!, Contagion, The Report (also director), and The Laundromt (which of course starred Meryl in 2019). 

I have to wonder if this is the reason that Places, Please hasn't filmed yet. Or has it? Considering this series might actually already be filming, who knows if Places, Please didn't quietly film in New York this summer? While I think that's unlikely, it makes me think that the project isn't dead, only on pause until Meryl's available. 

Her role in Extrapolations is the only one of the nine cast members' that is listed as "undisclosed." No fair! Everyone else has a little bio blurb but we're left guessing the character we'll get to see Meryl play. I'm guessing that each episode might focus mainly on a single character, with some minor connections to a couple of others. So it's tough to tell exactly how much of Meryl we'll get to see over the course of the series. Regardless, it's very much "on brand" for her to involve herself in a project that is timely and environmentally conscious. 

No word on when we can expect to see this, but I'd wager the second half of 2022 is likely for airing. More to come. 

Streep, Harrington, Miller




14 comments:

  1. There are 9 actors for 8 episodes. I wonder if Meryl will be the link between them. Multiple characters?

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    1. Astute observation. Something like a multi-character role that weaves through all the other characters' and episodes' themes could be an incredibly enticing prospect. Looking forward to this.

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  2. Daveed confirmed on Twitter than shooting is underway

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  3. She is the leading role: climate change. Her range.

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    1. You have some inside information on the extent of her role??

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    2. Haha! Good joke, Anonymous. Her range indeed.

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  4. As much as I'm excited to see Meryl in anything and I know she is probably very passionate about this project. I just can't help but feel disappointed in her choices. She became 'Meryl Streep' not because of TV but because of movies and I feel she is not doing her best to keep being an A list movie star. She literally turned down Babylon (a guaranteed Oscar nomination) and has not yet begun work on Places, Please a movie where she could have once again got to shine in the lead role for a TV show? If this role doesn't turn out as great or even greater than her role in Angels in America, I would be really disappointed in her choices. She should be following a similar path as Frances McDormand at this stage of her career instead of whatever she is doing.

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    1. I'm afraid there are quite a few assumptions in your thinking that might not necessarily be true. Do any of us even know for certain that Streep was ever offered a role in Babylon, much less turned one down? And there's no such thing as a "guaranteed" Oscar nomination.

      I don't expect Meryl places much value on being a movie star, so I therefore wouldn't expect her to be putting in much effort or thought into "maintaining" a status as such.

      As for TV, it's not surprising, as it's increasingly becoming the medium where the best roles are. Nothing fantastically complicated about that. I think this is especially true for women, and women over 40.

      As I mention in the post, I think it's very possible Places, Please is still happening, just at a later date. And I'm with you on the Frances McDormand thing, which is to say that I'd love if Meryl started more regularly producing projects that she wanted to star in. But she's rarely done that and has been vocal about it. Perhaps that could change if the offers start to dry up a bit now that she's in her 70s. But I tend to doubt it.

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    2. While I will also admit to be underwhelmed by the announcement, I argue that, with trends and cultural movement as facts, doing more television actually is an incredibly smart move, as television is the medium of choice for the deeper, more complex narratives and acting. That is if we were to reduce everything to being about career longevity and stature, instead of about art and personal enjoyment of the person actually having to do the work.

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    3. Look at Jean Smart in Hacks and Mare of Eastown, and J. Smith-Cameron in Succession, just to name a few. Great, and timely roles in TV for women of that age. She’s adapting to the streaming environment which is keeping her relevant and therefore helping her career, not hurting it. Would you rather her be stubborn and refuse to do anything for Netflix or any of these streaming services, and have people annoyed with her because of it?

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    4. Also, at this point, she’s not an “A-list movie star” she’s just an “A-list star.” And fun fact, her first major award was an Emmy Award for a TV drama series, lol.

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  5. Hmm. You both make good points but I'm still going to be a child and not listen. Lol

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  6. I'm just pleased to hear we will get to see Meryl in something, as well as it including a good cast and hopefully well crafted.

    I remember how quickly after the announcement of "Ricki" we learned it was already being filmed. Hopefully we find the same with "Places, Please"!

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