Chris Cooper Joins the cast of 'August: Osage County'

[GlindatheGood22]

Now that it can't be Kathy Bates I don't care who plays Mattie Fae so long as the line remains, "I'll throw you out on your fat Irish ass."

[followspot]

Brenda Blethyn for Mattie Fae?

Or Frances McDormand?

[nasty_khakis]

Ellen Burstyn? Would Jessica Lange read too old?

[little_sally]

I'd rather see Jessica Lange as Violet.

[somethingwicked]

Mattie Fae is Violet's younger sister, so people like Ellen Burstyn and Sissy Spacek (both of whom are Violets anyway) are too old opposite Streep.

And would you ever say things to Jessica Lange like, "You're about as sexy as a wet cardboard box" and "I'll throw you out on your fat Irish ass"? She's way too attractive for the part.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I just noticed Jean Smart is also in HOPE SPRINGS, the new Meryl Streep movie, wouldn't be surprised to see her turn up in this at all. She'd be perfect in the role too.
There really aren't too many A-listers around Streep's age that aren't Kathy Bates who scream Mattie Fae. I was trying to think of people like Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton (who played Streep's sister in MARVIN'S ROOM), Glenn Close, Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, etc and they're all wrong for the part for one reason or another. Really curious as to who'll be playing this.
And somethingwicked, Jennifer Connelly has been cast in Darren Aronofsky's NOAH, I doubt she'll have the time to do this, I also find her to be incredibly boring as an actress, I'd rather see someone like Ehle as Ivy.
Curious about the Andrea Riseburough rumor, she hasn't been officially announced and I wonder if she, in fact, had to drop out. Now get Debra Messing on the phone ASAP!

[henrikegerman]

Great! Now, more than ever, I want Kate Nelligan or Kathleen Turner as Mattie Fae.

[nasty_khakis]

I'll conceide Lang looks older than Streep, but the not sexy part is a barb from sister to sister. I've seen sisters (one of whom is an ex Miss Virginia) call the other ugly/dumb/slut with a smile and without a stitch of truth. Besides Jean Smart and other names thrown out are just as beautiful. I'm just throwing out names, anyway.

It's incredibly difficult to think of actresses in the right age range who can play Streep's sibling. Most actresses of that certain age are in the "still too sexy (or trying to be)" or "way too old/Judi Dench" category.

My only thoughts are Lilly Tomlin, Judith Light, Annette Benning?

[sarcadam88]

Pam Ferris?
Kirstie Alley?
Bette Midler?
Karen Black?
Rosie O'Donnell?

[nasty_khakis]

Wait, I'm just now realizing this is John Wells of 'ER' and 'Shameless' meaning close ties with Clooney, William Macy, and...Joan Cusack.

Though with the (my opinion) miscating of Streep and Roberts, RuPaul should take a stab at Mattie Fae.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Lily Tomlin--who was so heavily rumored to play Violet on Broadway at one point--would be great, Benning would be inspired and very different from the Rondi Reed model; Benning is almost 10 years apart from Streep though, I feel that the actress playing Mattie Fae should be closer in age.

[Rypm25]

I love the idea of Jean Smart in pretty much anything!

[nasty_khakis]

Age almost doesn't matter in movies. Amy Pohler is only 8 years older than Rachel McAdams, Angela Lansury was only 3 years older than Lawrence Harvey, Babra Streisand is about to have a 5 year old child in Gypsy.

The more and more I think about these names the more and more I'm less worried about Bates being ruled out. There are many different options who each could bring something different to the role.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Tomlin would be wonderful, but wouldn't she look a little old to be playing Streep's younger sister? I suppose they could change the ages, but I would not buy Streep as Tomlin's older sister.

As for Mattie Fae's looks, bear in mind that refers to herself as "old fat Aunt Mattie Fae", or something along those lines. So though this line could change, I don't really think the character can be terribly sexy. Given the text, I think she should be a little frumpy and past her prime a bit.

[Mildred Plotka]

How's about Imelda Staunton for Mattie Fae?

[Jordan Catalano]

Bette Midler could be great in that role, as well.

[nasty_khakis]

I agree with past her prime, but at that age most women feel physically past their prime. And "fat Aunt Mattie Fae" is generic self deprication. I'm always calling myself fat when I'm only 8lbs heavier than my skinny days and still wear the same size clothes. I think Mattie Fae's "frumpiness" isn't as important as, say Ivy being not that conventionally pretty since she's supposed to be stuck, alone, etc. If you recally Mattie Fae ALSO "stills myself as sexy, thank you!" While I do think Kathy Bates/Margot Martindale are perfect ideas I'm not against to a Sigourney Weaver type with no makeup, frump clothes, etc.

Speaking of Ivy, Cynthia Nixon? Though she may read older than Roberts.

[random person 112]

Nixon would be great but she mit read too old. I think in the end we'll undoubtedly end up with Amy Adams as Ivy, not that that's a bad thing.

[Calvin]

When Molly Regan played Mattie Fae on Broadway, if I recall correctly, they dropped the references to her being fat -- so, it's been done before.

[jewishboy]

I can't believe the decision not to cast Bates. Stupid. I like Cooper a lot, good choice. I am really hoping they consider Albert Finney for Beverly (though Jack Nicholson would be too good to pass up).

Does anyone else want to see Steve Carell in this movie? I think he would make an interesting Steve or Bill.

How about Celia Weston for Mattie Fae?

[random person 112]

i know this is off topic but how awesome would Elizabeth Perkins have been as Barbara, she would have actually looked like Streeps daughter.

[bdn223]

Remember Violet is older...yet smaller than Mattie Fae. Barbra amd Karen are supposed to look similar to each other and Violet, while Ivy should look more like Beverly.

The real question should be whose playing Little Charles and how similiar will he look to Beverly.

[somethingwicked]

Although I think she's doing PICNIC on Broadway this fall, Melissa Leo is another name that comes to mind for Mattie Fae in the mold they seem to be going for.

She's only 52, but she's able to age up on film quite easily (as she did to great acclaim a few years ago in THE FIGHTER.)