"Africa" film back on track?

Before getting into the news, let's just remember that Meryl was barely even mentioned as attached to this project when I first learned of it back in March.  However, I've been intrigued by its possibility since the announcement.  Not so much for the role Meryl would play, more for the conservationist ideas against the backdrop of the African continent.

Not long after this first being brought to my attention, I reported that the film had been essentially scrapped.  Now, several articles are swirling around with quotes from the story's real-life main character, paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, saying that it's definitely going to be made.  In Kenya, no less.  It's also reported that Leakey (set to be played by Brad Pitt) has asked would-be director Angelina Jolie to "tone down" the violence and sex in the film.

If all this is true, and the Kenyan government is really getting behind it to possibly help with funding, would this get rolling in 2016?  By the slim chance Meryl actually were involved, her rumored role would be that of Leakey's mother, Mary.  I can actually see Meryl being interested in promoting something like this, bringing awareness to the awful ongoing poaching of elephants in east Africa.

I'm certainly not holding my breath, but even if Meryl gets nowhere near this, I'd still like to see the film come together.   We'll have to see if there's more confirmation from either Jolie or Pitt's reps.  As this goes to post, the film is no longer listed on either's IMDb pro page.

"Africa" film scrapped

 A couple of months ago I had reported that Meryl was mentioned to be attached to the Angelina Jolie project about paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey.  The film, entitled Africa, was tentatively scheduled to begin shooting later this summer.  Today, the would-be cinematographer Roger Deakins, who worked with Jolie on Unbroken, indicated that the film will not be happening.  In a French interview for Premiere magazine, he states on page 16:

"Invincible was a good experience, and when Angelina announced she wanted to do this film about Richard Leakey , I jumped at the chance. Not only because I had worked with her, but because I wanted to return to Africa , where I went often. Especially for Mountains of the Moon in Kenya. I not only admired as director Bob Rafelson , but humanly , it was adorable. Unfortunately, Africa will not take place . This is a big disappointment."

Earlier this month it was revealed that Jolie was having trouble securing funding for the film's ballooning budget.  Not a huge surprise that they've passed on this one.  Too bad, as it sounded like a very interesting subject.  I guess this just opens up more time for Meryl to film The Good House!

Entertainment Weekly previews "Ricki and the Flash"

This isn't that big of a deal, but we've been pretty deprived of any news on Ricki and the Flash, so it was nice to see that Entertainment Weekly had a little preview online today.   The article goes into a tiny bit more depth about the film's plot, even down to the types of songs we'll get to see and hear Meryl play on the guitar.  Perhaps this little bit of press is a sign that the trailer isn't far off?

In other news, last month Meryl's name was mentioned as attached to the upcoming Angelina Jolie pic Africa.  Today, Deadline is reporting that the production of the film is in jeopardy due to "budget and creative issues."  Meryl's participation in this was dubious at best, so we'll just have to stay tuned. Seems like a great story for a feature film, though.  

Streep to team with Spacek for remake of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"?

Hoboy.  This has been quite the week for rumored projects.  First we had Meryl's name mentioned to be joining Angelina Jolie's Africa.  And now, as of last night, Streep's IMDb Pro page has her attached to team with Sissy Spacek in Walter Hill's remake of the cult classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?  Recall almost three years ago when it was announced that Hill was hoping to helm the picture, with most articles happened to list Meryl as one of their top choices for one of the roles.

I have found no other results online that link Meryl to this project.  In fact, I've found no news of the project whatsoever, aside from the updated page on IMDb Pro.  Although Streep and Spacek are listed as "rumored," there are several filmmakers listed in the project's description, including producers, a casting director and writing credits.

This does not seem in any way related to the picture that Ryan Murphy was hoping to make for HBO which was to include Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon depicting a behind-the-scenes look at Joan Crawford and Bette Davis's experience making the original 1962 film. Whether the HBO project was based on the script Best Actress, we may never know.  I can't decide if I'd prefer to see Streep in an original screenplay such as this, which chronicles Davis and Crawford (which I've suggested in the epilogue to my re-imagined filmography), or a reinterpretation of this revered film from the last days of Hollywood's golden age.

As always, time will tell as to whether this (in whichever form) ultimately comes to fruition.  Regardless, the thought of this remake now seems a little less "lame" than I originally considered in mid 2012.

Streep to join Jolie and Pitt in "Africa"?

An interview with Kenyan paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey was posted yesterday on the South China Morning Post.  Before you say why the hell is that news?, hear me out.  In the interview, Leakey discusses the upcoming Angelina Jolie film Africa, which is to be based on his memoir Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa's National Treasures.  Brad Pitt has been mentioned to star as Leakey, Jolie (in addition to directing) his wife and according to this new article, Meryl as Leakey's mother, Mary.

Ok, a few things.  Leakey is not directly quoted as mentioning Meryl, although I'm not sure why that would come out of nowhere from the writer of the article, Sarah Lazraus.  Rest assured I've emailed the managing editor of the journal to see if we can get confirmation from Lazarus as to what her source was for including Meryl's name.  Hopefully she's not just confused about Meryl lending her voice to the upcoming documentary Shout Gladi Gladi, which focuses on women's health in Africa.  I can recall when Into the Woods was still unconfirmed that a phone interview Meryl did with a Chinese reported bascially solidified her involvement.  This makes it a little more difficult for me to simply disregard this latest bit of news based solely on its seemingly obscure source.

Regardless, this could be an enticing project were Streep's participation to come to fruition.  Some might scoff at the idea of Jolie directing Meryl, but I don't imagine this being a large part.  So why would Streep bother, you wonder?  Well, she is certainly one to involve herself in what she considers important causes.  Advocating environmental and animal conservation seems reasonably within that scope.  Plus, Mary Leakey was no slouch when it comes to making a name for oneself.  She and her husband Louis were revolutionary in the field of paloeanthropology, substantially contributing to our current understanding of human evolution.  For these reasons, I'd be thrilled if Meryl lent her talents to this story.  Another character with a British accent, no less.

From what I understand, filming is tentatively expected to begin this summer.  Meryl will likely wrap Florence Foster Jenkins by July, which would give her a few weeks at the end of the summer to film if she had few scenes.  Hopefully it wouldn't get in the way of the potential shooting of The Good House, which if we are to believe reports from FilmNation, will start production this year.  Early fall seems a reasonable start to that project.  On paper, scheduling wouldn't be an issue for the new project.  We'll just have to wait and see if Africa is a legit connection for our girl.