Bitchin' Blog Posts

Nora Roberts’ Tribute Comes to Lifetime

by SB Sarah | December 04, 2008 | Thursday at 6:18 pm | 15 Comments

Book CoverAccording to eOnline‘s round up of industry news, Brittany Murphy has signed on to star in Lifetime’s Nora Roberts’ Tribute next year.

Murphy will play Cilla McGowan, a former child star who ends up in Virginia rehabbing her grandmother’s farmhouse. Jason Lewis will play the hero, graphic novel artist Ford Sawyer.

I have to say, the squeaky voiced Murphy makes a strange casting decision in my mind’s eye movie of the book, but it remains to be seen whether Locklear or Murphy will win the “Fangirl Ire” contest in 2009.

[Thanks to Dagny for the link.]

Filed: General Bitching, The Link-O-Lator

Tagged: nora roberts, movies, lifetime

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JDunc807 said on 12.04.08 at 07:00 PM

Yum!  Jason Lewis!  Nice casting.

Yet, I have a hard time disassociating him from all those steamy scenes he did with Kim Cattrall in “Sex & the City”.

Bonnie said on 12.04.08 at 07:43 PM

Yum!  Jason Lewis!  Nice casting.

I second that one. 

I still need to read the book.  It’s on my shelf.

Tina C. said on 12.04.08 at 08:52 PM

At least Murphy is more age appropriate for the role than Locklear was for Angels Fall.  I had the hardest time watching her in that role because I kept thinking, “I’m really supposed to believe she’s in her early 30’s?  Really??  She’s older than I am!”

I think that Murphy can probably carry off the “former child star” vibe, too.  That said, it would be nice if she would get a little muscle tone in her arms prior to filming.  (Sorry, it just seems that someone that remodels houses wouldn’t have arms that look like she has trouble lifting a good-sized sandwich.)

PK said on 12.04.08 at 08:59 PM

Murphy was probably also in their price range.  I don’t think she’s been doing much lately.

Lori said on 12.04.08 at 09:04 PM

Sorry, it just seems that someone that remodels houses wouldn’t have arms that look like she has trouble lifting a good-sized sandwich.

This and the squeaky voice are my worries about Murphy in this role (and pretty much everything else), but I think it’s probably true that they were going for the best possible combination of name recognition & affordability that they could get.

Amy said on 12.04.08 at 09:29 PM

Actually…Brittany Murphy as Cilla makes way more sense to me than Leeann Rimes as Meg.  But that’s just my opinion.:)

MaryKate said on 12.04.08 at 10:33 PM

Mmmmm, Jason Lewis. That’s enough to get me to watch.

Leeann Burke said on 12.04.08 at 11:02 PM

Darn, I don’t have Lifetime. I’ll have to wait until it comes out on video.

Joanne said on 12.05.08 at 02:56 AM

I never hold up much hope when anyone’s book is turned into a movie but I’m sometimes pleasantly surprised.

I loved the descriptions in the novel of the landscape and the craftsmen and the materials they used so I just hope they do justice to the two houses.

If whoever that is does justice to Ford I’ll be really happy.

jmc said on 12.05.08 at 03:46 AM

Neither of those actors would ever have occured to me for Cilla and Ford.  But, oh, the eye candy that is Lewis.

Hilcia said on 12.05.08 at 03:50 AM

OMG, I hope she can carry the role.  She needs more than muscle tone, she needs to show some character as well, Cilla was no pushover.  I don’t see her with a squeaky voice, not at all.  He can probably carry Ford, although for some reason I imagined him differently. 
But at least, as it was mentioned before these two are age appropriate.  I couldn’t stand watching Locklear, and I’m a total NR fan—she ruined Angel’s Fall for me.

lizziebee said on 12.05.08 at 05:29 AM

Arugh! No! No no no no no! Why am I not surprised. Why on earth would they cast Murphy as Cilla??? Sheesh.

Jackie L. said on 12.05.08 at 11:44 PM

LeeAnn Rimes as Meg—say it isn’t so!

Renda said on 12.06.08 at 05:52 AM

Listening to Tribute on DVD as we speak.  Do not like the voice/inflection/tone the woman is using for Ford at all.  It is difficult to listen to.  I have never had this problem before with a book on tape.
I would not have thought the voice would be such a big deal, but it is.  Maybe Ms. Murphy can modulate her voice for this.  Nora’s description of Cilla’s physicality also seems at odds with Ms. Murphy’s body/appearance.
Looking forward to seeing the tatoo wonder that is Steve, though.  Maybe they will do a casting call at LA Ink.

Dagny said on 12.07.08 at 03:51 AM

I haven’t read Tribute yet so I can’t comment on the news, only pass it along.  But I have been thinking about who I would have cast as Meg instead of Leanne.  The best I’ve come up with is Cobie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother.  She plays tough and independent well.  I can physically buy her as Meg.  Plus I associate her with the northern environs since her HIMYM character is from rural, western Canada.

As for Nate, I’ve heard Eddie Cibrian is rumored but not confirmed.  I don’t mind him but I’m not sure he can play things as dark as Nate is.  Right now my choice would be Owain Yeoman (currently of The Mentalist). 

I should note that when I cast these in my head I always use TV actors because I try to be realistic about who would sign on to a Lifetime movie.  Which I guess it seems a bit strange since these are all dreamed up in the first place.

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