In today’s Parade magazine that goofy free supplement that comes with the Sunday paper, there’s a question and answer segment about Stephanie Plum. I can’t link to it so I’ll reprint here:
Janet Evanovich recently said her popular Stephanie Plum detective novels had been optioned by Hollywood. When can we expect to see her heroine on the big screen?
-Erin Marra, Seattle, WAA: You’ll have to be patient. Producer Wendy Finerman (Forrest Gump) bought the rights to the Plum character some time ago, but has had trouble getting an acceptable script for the first book, One for the Money. But we’re told she is committed to the project and has talked to Reese Witherspoon about playing the brash detective.
Ok, first off, REESE WITHERSPOON? Since when is dark-haired Hungarian anywhere NEAR blonde and Southern? This is not a slam to Witherspoon, whom I think personally is quite talented. But hel-LO? I mean, at the least, someone with the right description. My mental image of Stephanie is not at all similar to Reese Witherspoon. I’m going to have to think good and hard about who I’d pick to play her, because I such at the match-the-actress-to-the-character game. Usually when I read a book, I don’t picture anyone I’ve seen before if I mentally image the character at all.
Of course, it’s hard to please the crowd when making a novel into a movie; just look at the crazy attention that went into finding Harry Potter.
But the real question as to the movification of the Stephanie Plum series: Who will play Grandma Mozer?!
I’d have Helena Bonham-Carter or perhaps Keira Knightly as Stephanie Plum, and either Dame Judi Dench or Dame Maggie Smith as Grandma Mazur.
I don’t think that Trenton is a very nice area, so I think that I would relocate the action to Henley-on-Thames (hey, if you can move Nick Hornby’s oeuvre from North London where I grew up to Chicago (High Fidelity) or Boston (Fever Pitch) then I can do the same for Ms Evanovich). Jack Davenport plays Joe, and Alan Rickman can play Ranger. Cousin Vinnie would be Gerard Depardieu.
Ohhhhhh my stomach hurts from laughing. . .Stephen, you are the bee’s knees.
You forgot long suffering Dad. Kenneth Braanuagh Or Russell Crowe?
Speaking of high culture: Ever see PeeWee’s Great Adventure? The very end? (I wish I could remember who “Hollywood” had cast as PeeWee in the movie within the movie)
Well hell, I was going to give a serious answer. But after that? I must say that bounty hunting is a disagreeable job, let’s make Stephanie an antiques dealer instead. 😉
Actually, when I read the books, I have always pictured Tea Leoni (yes, I know she’s blonde, so sue me) as Stephanie. Tea yes, Reese, mmmmmmm probably not.
Hah! Stephen doesn’t scare me off one bit.
Did anyone besides me ever see Jami Gertz in a movie called Jersey Girl (from the 80s)? She was the perfect Stephanie- big hair, Joisey accent, delightfully tacky. For Grandma, the little short old lady from Golden Girls, Estelle something. I see Mercedes Ruehl as mom. I have never been able to figure out which actors would do Joe and Ranger justice. Queen Latifah would have made an amazing Lula before she lost so much weight.
Thanks for the opportunity for me to exercise my brain on this lovely Sunday morning. If there are any typos it’s cuz I haven’t had enough coffee.
Kate: James Brolin played Pee Wee. Here’s the full cast.
I’d cast Christina Ricci as Stephanie and (if she’s up to it—the gal is 82) Estelle Getty as Grandma.
I’ve seen Evanovich herself had Sandra Bullock in mind for Stephanie – though that was when it was originally optioned and several years have passed since then. I, too, have always struggled with who would play Ranger and now you mention it Candy the Grandma Mozer role is another one I’ve never been able to align with a specific person.
I like Stephen’s idea, partly for all of the controversy it would cause and partly for the revenge factor of all of the outside-the-US stories that were changed completely due to US production. I mean, it’s going to be controversial enough among fans cause you just know they’re going to ruin at least 5 things that made it movie-worthy in the first place – so why not go all the way?
One of the main problems for me with Reese Witherspoon, besides the accent, which she could ditch, is her height—Stephanie is 5’7”, so that when she wears her 4 inch heels she’s an inch taller than Joe. Isn’t RW pretty short, or is that just something I’m projecting on to her? I like the Keira Knightly suggestion though, but ONLY if she can do Trenton. Jersey is what makes that series, IMO.
As for Grandma Mazur—since Estelle Getty is completely debilitated with Alzenheimer’s I vote for Betty White. Really, if you’ve ever seen her as herself, she is whip cracking naughty and wickedly funny.
What about Joe and Ranger, though?
Linda Hunt is Grandma.
If he can do the accent, I can see Hugh Jackman as Joe. Ranger though…much harder to cast.
But I’m willing to volunteer to check out the casting call possibilities.
I see Marisa Tomei as Stephanie. I always envision The Rock as Ranger. I liket the idea of Betty White as Grandma Mazur and Mercedes Ruehl as Steph’s mom or maybe Lanie Kazan from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I can’t imagine who could possibly fill Joe’s shoes. My pick for Lula is M’onique and Dan Hedaya is Vinnie.
“My pick for Lula is M’onique”
Oh, yeah; definitely.
I love Marisa Tomei, but I think she’s gotten a little old to play Stephanie. Plus I don’t see the Hungarian in her. Love the idea of Dan Hedaya as Vinne, though!
As for Joe, I can’t see Hugh Jackman playing him at all, for many of the same reasons I can’t see him playing Roarke from the In Death series, either. I’m thinking that maybe it’s going to have to be someone I’m not as familiar with, since Joe is so distinctively Joe in my mind. Same with Ranger. I really think that barely knowns are best in these kinds of roles (where the audience already has such a strong identification with the character), but from a publicity/profit standpoint, that almost never seems appealing to producers, studios, etc.
People, people! Let’s get our priorities straight!
WHO will play Rex???
p.s. I could swear I read somewhere, ages ago, that Ms. E herself wanted to play the mom.
Stephen, you’re right that Trenton is an absolute shithole. I’m sure that even if filming were to be in the great Garden State, it would be moved to a more scenic, less industrial crap-filled area than Trenton.
As for Joe, I can totally see Hugh Jackman, but Ranger? Ooof. That’s hard. What about Luis Guzman? Or is he too creepy?
WHO will play Rex???
I would guess Andy “Gollum” Serkis, through a brilliant combination of CGI and duct tape.
Luis Guzman? Um, Isn’t Ranger supposed to be sex god handsome? How about Raoul Bova as Ranger? I also saw Jamie Gertz in Jersey Girl and she’d have been perfect but I think she’s too old now. Keira Knightley? Not a bad idea. I’m interested in seeing how she does as the female bountry hunter in her upcoming film Domino. Remember the woman from the old Burger King “Where’s the beef?” commecials, Clara Peller? She’d have made a great Grandma. Dan Hedeya would be perfect as Vinnie. As for Joe, Hugh Jackman is a good idea. I’m not as concered about Joe as Ranger.
I thought Ranger was more intriguing-looking, and slightly creepy. Not so much an instant hotty-hot-hot reaction when you saw him.
But it’s been awhile since I’ve read a Plum book from the series so I could easily have holes in my memory on that one.
I see Janeane Garofolo as Plum.
Reese can do dark hair.
WTF? http://tinyurl.com/8dahm
Hey Alison—when there’s just a URL posted and there’s a .jpg in the path somewhere, the comment software thinks you’re trying to directly link to a picture, hence the achy breakiness. I’ll fix the links.
Hmmm. Just took a look, and Reese looks much better as a brunette, in my opinion.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooot Keira Knightley – have you ever seen her try to act – puhlease!!!
I think unknowns wouls be best but as someone has already said the pwers that be ain’t gonna do it.
I personally see Andy Dick as the perfect choice.
Definite two thumbs down to Reese Witherspoon. Not because I don’t like her, but because she is NOT right for the part and do I really want to watch a movie made by someone who thinks she is?
I’ve always been of the opinion that the role of Stephanie should be cast with a lesser known actress- maybe even an unknown. Stephanie is a unique, fun, quirky character and she deserves to be represented by someone who doesn’t have a lot of preconceived ideas floating about her. People can believe her as Stephanie because that’s all she’s been.
Not that I’ve really thought about this 😉
You know, I see Reese Witherspoon as Sookie Stackhouse. She’s blonde, southern, kind of perky… she can do it.
I see Scott Speedman is Eric Northman. But I see Scott Speedman in anything.
is=as. I should proof-read my posts before I hit the “submit” button.
Speaking of Submit, I see Gillian Anderson as Submit in Judith Ivory’s Black Lace.
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WHO will play Rex???
I would guess Andy “Gollum†Serkis, through a brilliant combination of CGI and duct tape.
***
Okay, Stephen – true confession time. I had no clue who Andy Serkis is. So I Googled…
http://www.serkis.com/
All I can say is – he’s perfect, but will he fit in Steph’s tin can?
Oh, and one more thing – that dude’s website is annoying as hell.
Stef, who’s never seen Lord of the Rings – any parts
Ummm, I checked out the serkis.com thing for about a minute, so possibly I should have looked longer, but what are those rock-like things on the menu supposed to be? Are they rocks or dinosaur eggs or something? If so what’s the connection to those things and him? Maybe someone just thought they looked good or interesting, but it confused me so my inquiring mind wanted to get to the bottom of that Loch Ness Mystery right quick. Also, I noticed he probably could pull off the hamster thing, just based on looks (that wasn’t meant to sound snarky, but it kinda’ does no matter how I edit it) and I suppose if Julia Roberts can be Tinker Bell then Andy Serkis can be Rex.
My daughter has two hamsters that I was originaly going to volunteer for the role, but since the script would likely want an animal that might actually come out of the tin can, grab food, twitch its whiskers, then return to the can while displaying some sort of uber-hamster personality, I had to admit ours just won’t fit the bill. Now, if the script calls for a hamster that squeals like a pig – well, let’s just say Hollywood here we come…
PS The husband suggests Cloris Leachman for Grandma Mozer and I second The Rock for Ranger.
“Speaking of Submit, I see Gillian Anderson as Submit in Judith Ivory’s Black Lace.”
Oh, do you really hate Submit Channing Downes that much that you would visit such an indignity on her??? Ah, blasphemy. Please, please keep anyything related to Black Silk and Judith Ivory in general far far away from the X-Files.
I’d go for Reese Witherspoon as Sookie, though. But why don’t you see Speedman as Bill material rather than as the massive Viking?
Oh, do you really hate Submit Channing Downes that much that you would visit such an indignity on her?
Gillian Anderson as Scully had that interesting restrained passion thing that Submit had.
But why don’t you see Speedman as Bill material rather than as the massive Viking?
‘Cause SS is blond. Also, SS is my current “guy I see in my head in place of the hero” guy. Even for Monica Jackson’s books.
You know, the idea of a movie might make me try to read the first Plum book again.
Hmmm. I’ll vote a no, no, no, no, no to Kiera Knightly, who I like, but NOT for this. Absolutely for Sandra Bullock, though.
I can see Hugh Jackman as Joe. Oh mama, can I. *happy whimper*
And Ranger… Noooooooooooooooooo!! not The Rock, please!!
I know I’m going to get shot down for this, because physically he doesn’t LOOK the part, but purely for attitude? Vin Diesel circa Pitch Black.
How about Lori Petty or Debi Mazar (both of whom have done audiobooks)? At least they can do Jersey.
I like Leah Remini for Stephanie and Ed Burns for Joe.
Okay, here’s a question for y’all: when you think of casting book characters, are you literal to their background, looks, etc.? Because when I think of Joe Morelli, I can’t get past the TOTAL Italian package—dark hair, dark “bittersweet chocolate” eyes, olive skin, “Jersey guy smart,” sharp-planed face with a scar over his eye from a bar fight. With Ranger, the Cuban thing seems so much a part of who he is that it’s hard to imagine, for example, a Samoan playing him (although Evanovich has changed Ranger’s hair so often I think he’s really wearing wigs half the time).
I have to admit I was won over by Renee Zelwegger as Bridget Jones (really, the only role I could stand her in), but was that just a matter of an accent? Or am I being too narrow in how I envision these characters? Do most people apply their own personal fantasy men to these characters, or do the characters become so distinctive that it’s hard to find a known actor who fits the bill, especially one who is so culturally and physically different?
when you think of casting book characters, are you literal to their background, looks, etc.?
When I’m reading, I don’t generally picture a specific person in my mind as representative of the features described, thus it’s always a painful process to me to observe real people being assigned to fictional characteristics. Sometimes – as in the case of Stephanie – it seems crucial to me that the actor look as close as possible to the book’s physical description. Sometimes – as in the case of Grandma Mozer – it’s more important to me that the actor get the spirit and personality of the character right than look just as physically described.
So, I’m completely inconsistent in my requirements and yet I want to be consistently pleased by what the movie producers choose to do. :).
Stephanie Plum has to be Lori Petty. She was the voice of the first few on audio and she is perfect. I still hear her voice as I read the books.
I saw Evanovich on the Today show a couple of summers ago and she said the books had been optioned as movies for years and that Jennifer Lopez (please, no) and Sandra Bullock (meh) were both very interested in the role. Ever since I’ve been trying to figure out who would be best for all the roles. Ranger? Morelli? Grandma Mazur? Lula? Sally Sweet?
Eric Bana for Ranger???