Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Will Meryl be cast in the upcoming screen adaptation of Hillary Clinton's novel?

Late last week, multiple sources announced that Hillary Clinton's recent novel, State of Terror, has been acquired for development into a feature film. I have to admit that I wasn't even aware Clinton had published a novel. But she has, it's gotten strong reviews, and now it's being executive produced by Clinton and her co-author, Louise Penny, along with Clinton's production company HiddenLight Productions and Gigi Pritzker's Madison Wells. A short blurb from the article: 

"This high-stakes thriller of international intrigue follows novice Secretary of State Ellen Adams, who is unexpectedly brought into the administration by a newly-elected President, her political and personal adversary. Events soon erupt that sweep her into a world of global intrigue and diplomacy where the stakes could not be higher and the potential consequences, both personal and global, could not be greater."

It's not hard to figure out where Clinton got her inspiration for the story. And it seems like it could be a juicy role for a woman over 50. In one description I read, they described Ellen as "middle-aged," but the character also has an adult daughter who now runs her media empire. Any concern of Streep potentially being too old for the part might not be a huge problem. Clinton was 65 when she left the office of Secretary of State in 2017. Meryl, even if the film were not to shoot for another two years (I have not even seen a screenwriter attached at this point), would be close to 75. Still doable, as she can easily play parts ten years younger. While not a true biopic, this project wouldn't be completely unlike when she filmed The Devil Wears Prada, a story adapted from a novel, which in turn was loosely based on real people. 

It would be an intriguing character, and the kind of political story Meryl has occasion to involve herself with. She and Clinton are friends (or at least friendly), so I can't imagine her name won't at least come up in the casting conversation, if it hasn't already. Places, Please was announced one year ago this coming Friday, with zero follow up info on the film's status since. Without any other projects confirmed or rumored, I'll be doing a lot of speculating in the coming weeks/months about possible projects. I would be thrilled if we learn that Places, Please is set to film this spring with a late 2022 release. Then we'll maybe get casting news on State of Terror sometime later this year. And if we throw in a true biopic (see any of the amazing options from Poll #13), that's an original screenplay, a novel adaptation, and a biopic all in a row in lead parts. 

Let the powers that be get to work! 




7 comments:

  1. Well this has just jumped to the top of my TBR pile! I just hope she doesn't attach to anything before it lands at a home with a director...because as you note, other intriguing things have not come to pass as they never landed a home (Nix, Places, Please, etc.) Strangely enough, I am currently reading Lucia Berlin's A Manual for Cleaning Women, which a commenter on your previous post mentioned as a possible spot. We all think alike! I'd love to see her finally collaborate with Almodovar (and Blanchett, again, of course, with them actually exchanging lines this time). My gut instinct tells me to pay attention for supporting roles in more mainstream films like Greta Gerwig's Barbie or Jon M. Chu's Wicked (which I have mentioned before), (both filming in London this spring and summer, interestingly) before we see another meaty role. A secretary of state would be just the ticket.

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    1. I agree about the director issue, Darcy. This particular type of project kind of sounds like something Kathryn Bigelow would be involved with (even though it's not a true story). Regardless I want Meryl to do MEATY stuff!

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    2. Looking up the book to get my hands on it, I discovered that Joan Allen did the audiobook, so this could mean she has the inside track on the part, but we shall see!

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    3. Yeah, I doubt that necessarily means Allen is being considered for the film role. Mary Beth Hurt narrated The Good House, for example. But who knows?!

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  3. Even if this isn’t technically Hillary, it’s close enough that if she didn’t want to play Lily Ledbetter, I’m not sure she’d do this, but there is someone by the name of J. Smith-Cameron who may be an even better fit :)

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    1. Director and screenwriter of Lilly, Rachel Feldman, has been on record that Meryl declined the role because she felt she was too old. I'm not sure should expect that to be her same reasoning were she to decline this role (if offered).

      Smith-Cameron would be great, btw!

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