That's a wrap on season 4 of Only Murders in the Building. Meryl had screen time for the third time during the season, as she (Loretta) and Oliver got hitched. But not before she's heading off to New Zealand for continuation of her TV show's filming. The show has already been renewed for season 5.
There was an article yesterday from show runner and co-creator John Hoffman, in which he was asked whether having Loretta head off to New Zealand was a deliberate way to buy themselves times to accommodate Meryl's schedule for season 5. His reply:
It’s partly pragmatic in that way, sure. But really it’s about what the trio has built together, and what Oliver and Loretta have built together. That is a little wink to Hollywood at the moment when she’s saying how, suddenly, the budget [on her show] is requiring [they shoot in] New Zealand. That was one part of it. But then it feels to me like a beautifully adult decision that she comes to, saying, “We don’t have to do this in any way traditionally… we never have… we shouldn’t.” There was a slightly longer speech there talking about “we can long for other, and pine for each other, and then when we’re together, it’s that much more magical. That’s all I want is to keep that.” So, we’ll see how it goes. Nothing would make me happier than more Meryl Streep in the show.
What this means to me, is that they want the option to have Meryl in the next season, and if she's willing, it'll likely be brief and sporadic (kind of like this past season). Especially with Meryl (hopefully) having a couple projects due for filming next year (The Devil Wears Prada 2 in the first half of the year and possibly The Corrections in the second half of the year). I don't imagine there's any plan to have Meryl be some major character moving forward. I'd personally be fine if the show wrapped up after the next season. Five seems solid. I'm happy to have seen Meryl do something in the past two years, but it seems more likely that she's moving on to some projects that will require a greater amount of her professional time. Doesn't mean she can't swing by and spend a few days on the Only Murders set if they have scenes they feel they want or need Loretta in.
Bring on the new projects!
Personally, her character seems forced and unnecessary especially in S4. You see all her flaws in the acting, she should move on to other roles.
ReplyDeleteI thought she was hilarious and touching, acted wonderfully. Each to their own.
DeleteHer character serves no purpose plot-wise in Season 4, and only serves as a bit of a complement to Martin's character emotionally. It was a bit awkward to watch at times. She shouldn't have stayed on the show.
DeleteIs she not allowed to just be a love interest? Are you even a fan saying what she should do? Let her enjoy herself for God's sake, everything she did in the show was great which is the point, it doesn't matter the purpose.
Deletenot against joy, just mediocrity
DeleteMs. Eva, even if you are anonymous, I know it's you, there is not a second streeper in the whole world who goes around commenting with no manners like you do, giving lessons and never discussing things on their own merits and enjoying moralizing.
DeleteI'll throw in my two cents. Yes, Meryl gets to do whatever the hell she wants. And fans can like it or dislike it. If a fan wants to see her do something more in league with what we may be used to seeing from her, that doesn't make said person less a fan.
DeletePersonally, a huge part of my interest in Meryl is her brilliance in choosing roles that are so interesting and complex and varied. I'm pleased she seemed to enjoy herself in OMITB. She's said as much. Her participation in the latest season came off as a bit of "we can't just get rid of her...it's Meryl!" I'm totally fine with her moving on from that series. Even if she's in the next season, it will be brief. And I'd be surprised if there were a season 6.
We have some good times ahead as fans if/when DWP2 and The Corrections get off the ground. The former has potential for huge box office draw, which we know only serves to bolster Meryl's options for enticing future projects. The options are going to be leaner and leaner. But they're out there! We don't have to look too far to see several women over 70 (I guess white women anyway) in prestige roles/projects. Meryl has had her chances in the last five years. For whatever reason, she hasn't taken several of them.
I always think that she didn't want to act in the past three years, and she didn't have the energy to support it. In fact, in the past ten years, she has mostly acted in light comedies or musicals. She may want to relax. To be honest, I always think that her past ten years were a bit wasted. She could have explored the subject of women in their later years more deeply. But this is her choice, and I respect it. The fact is that Meryl is already 75 years old, and she can still act in a few works, so I don't want her to waste her time on some small roles that are not very meaningful. This is just my hope as a fan, and I didn't ask her to do it according to my wishes. Can't I express my opinion?
DeleteYou're ignoring the fact that at her age the roles are not as numerous, also you can hope for bigger roles without insinuating Loretta is meaningless when Loretta means a lot to a lot of people, and hell she got some nominations and even won an award for the role!!
DeleteAlso all the roles she seemed to be attached to at some point didn't pan out in the end, the films weren't received so well, so her instincts are good and we should trust them.
DeleteAlso the romance of Oliver and Loretta and the story of Loretta in season 3 absolutely explored a woman in her later years, there was also Big Little Lies, Let Them All Talk, and even The Prom on some level...
DeleteWhat roles that she was "attached to" are we talking about? The Great Lillian Hall? That film did very well with critics and Jessica Lange's performance was lauded. Babylon? Do we even know if she was ever really attached to that vs only rumored? Even so, I still would've loved to see her in it. I think the movie will be much better received 5-10 years down the road. What else? The Good House? Was also positively received but in hindsight would've loved to see that with Meryl in a limited series.
DeleteNone of those did that well at all with awards and there was also Beau is Afraid
DeleteAlso Lillian Hall was supposed to be a love letter to Broadway but wasn't even filmed in NY and ended up hardly being about Broadway so I don't blame her for backing out and going to OMITB where season 3 was a huge love letter to Broadway, and the show is a love letter to NYC in general.
DeleteJeff,I have said before that I am looking forward to the limited series "The Corrections". Meryl is finally willing to play a serious role and play a very important role. In the past few years, I don't think Meryl has no chance to play the leading role in some movies or TV series, but she doesn't want to do it. Now, for Hollywood, Meryl is really old and there are not many scripts to choose from. I cherish every performance of her, even if I don't like it. I hope that at the end of Meryl's career, there will still be good works and profound performances.
DeleteBTW, Ms. Eva can be so annoying.
DeleteAlso the romance of Oliver and Loretta and the story of Loretta in season 3 absolutely explored a woman in her later years, there was also Big Little Lies, Let Them All Talk, and even The Prom on some level...
ReplyDeleteYou go to great lengths to say how important and successful the role of Loretta is 😂 Just be happy, but stop leaving me messages, Ms. Eva, we are not on the same wavelength.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be the one on your high horse not me
DeleteEva is a well known obsessed streepfan in many other forums
ReplyDeleteEva seems to have no idea what others are saying and keeps making nonsense.
DeleteOMITB is a fun little part in a popular series, and it isn’t keeping her from accepting other roles. If she backed out of Lilian Hall and/or if certain projects get stalled, there are definitely other factors at play.
ReplyDeleteI want to see her take on new projects too, but there’s no reason she can’t do this too. Nothing embarrassing about it at all!
- not Eva
^This. I completely agree that OMITB is a project that likely took very little time from Meryl for her participation. I'm confident that not accepting or backing out of other roles was not because of a scheduling conflict due to her role as Loretta. But I'm always fascinated by the behind the scenes machinations that delay things from actually happening or make Meryl have second thoughts. There could be a whole book about it. Maybe I'll write it ha.
DeleteLilian Hall's director is terrible. The film was shot like a TV series. The camera language and photography were terrible, like a PowerPoint presentation. The film's praise was mainly based on the performances of Lange and Bates. I'm a little glad Meryl didn't do it. I don't think she withdrew from the film because of OMITB. There may have been some personal reasons. As mentioned above, she might not have wanted to play such a serious and heavy role at that time.
DeleteI'd love that book Jeff, you would be the perfect person to do it!
DeleteTo me Let Them All Talk was arguably one of her best efforts in the last 14 years.
ReplyDelete