Here's to hoping Jena Malone is cast as the younger nun! I saw the Broadway production after the tour began, so I missed Cherry Jones, but I did get to watch adorable Jena Malone take on a terrifying adult role.

That said, I do think Meryl Streep is a good choice for the role. It'll be nice to see her return to a much more tour-de-force, dramatic role after being in the comedic TDWP and the dramedic (I made up a word, woo!) A Prairie Home Companion.

However, Dustin Hoffman as the priest? The role seems like it's meant for a younger, charismatic priest who uses his charms and role as a a guiding light for youth in the parish to combat the accusations. For some reason, I feel like Patrick Wilson would be good for the role, but I'm not a Hollywood producer, so what do I know?

"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck

I agree with those who hoped that Cherry Jones could reprise her role, but I would have been truly surprised had that happened.  I can say that I can't think of a better "second choice," as it were, than Meryl Streep.  Kathy Bates was who I had in mind, but only because it never occured to me to think Streep would consider the role as a follow up to her deliciously wicked outing as Miranda Priestly. 

Like Dypole, I think Hoffman is a mistake.  He's too large a presence and not a subtle enough actor to ever lose himself in the role.  I was seeing someone more along the lines of Aidan Quinn or Robert Sean Leonard. 

To see both Streep & Jones in it together. A little re-writing of the script, a bit of this, a bit of that thrown in and it could make for a rather interesting lesbian movie. I'm thinking.... Jones is a nun whose passionate forbidden love with Streep causes them both to act out, Jones in one way, Streep in another. Streep is accused of sexually abusing a student when the Priest (Either Hoffman or Hoffman) learns of the relationship and in a jealous act, makes his accusation. Streep (who would be fantastic at playing the 'bad nun', is now caught in a race against time to prove not only to the woman she loves, but to the entire... parish?! OR world that she's innocent. Or is she?

OK I do a lot of thinking and I drink a lot of espresso. You know you all love me anyway!

Irish, Ifan? What's the difference between an Irish actor and anyone else, so long as they bring everything they can to the role? Just curious! :)

Personally, they could cast Meryl as the Janitor and I'd still pay fifteen dollars to see it. Hey, women in uniform, right?

then I'm all for it. I, too, saw the Cherry Jones original, and was blown. a. way. She played a real force to be reckoned with and deserves all the accolades she received for playing the role. She is, perhaps, the least-known-most-talented actress alive.

Having said that, I am no less intrigued by what la Streep will bring to the role (besides the ability to put butts in movie theater seats, I mean). While I am sure that the reasons for casting her as opposed to Jones are primarily box office rather than artistic, I have no quibbles whatsoever with the choice.

Besides, if that's what it takes to get the play to the big screen, better it gets there than not, because the REAL star of that show is the writing. Jones is brilliant, yes, but so is the material that she's working with. It's literate, funny, riveting, subtle, and deeply provoking. In anybody's hands, the work would stand out. Still, seeing Jones and Streep play it in a single lifetime. Well, I could die a thoroughly happy and satisfied woman.