A Stephanie Plum movie is in the works - Ranger and Morelli have been cast!

[4Katie]

Apparently Katherine Heigl has signed on to play Stephanie Plum in the first movie. I'm not sure what to think about that... Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway were also rumored to have been considered for the part. I think any of them would've been better than Heigl. I hope she proves me wrong.

No word yet on any of the other characters... I wonder who else will be cast. Especially for the very important roles of Ranger and Joe.

VERY important roles!

[ginaf20697]

Oh good lord, they couldn't possibly have picked someone worse. Sandra Bullock would've been perfect if not for her age. Heigl is just WRONG  

[hsuthard]

Ahhh, the wonders of casting. I agree Bullock would have been perfect 10-15 years ago. She was so cute in Miss Congeniality, which reminds me of Stephanie.

I gave up hoping for appropriate casting after they cast Tom Hanks in the role of 300-lb. Forrest Gump.

[Margaret]

I can't see Heigl as Stephanie either.  The girl who starred in the Shopaholic movie would be a better choice, or maybe even Anne Hathaway.

[drenee]

Anne Hathaway would be much better, IMO. 
She can be so goofy, which is Stephanie exactly.
deb

[ginaf20697]

A headless corpse would be better than Heigl. Yuck! 

[Bernie]

She is NOT who I can see playing Stephanie. Not at all. *sigh*

[Hoosiermama]

That's my problem with movies made from books. They never cast who I think should play a part! I don't know why they never call me to find out who they should cast , but Heigl definitely is NOT Stephanie.

[L.J. Sellers, novelist]

I disliked Katherine Heigl's role as Izzy in Grey's Anatomy and developed a negative perception of her. Then I recently watched THE UGLY TRUTH and decided she is a talented comedic actor. I think she may surprise you in the Stephanie Plum role.
L.J.

[Cindy416]

I liked Heigl in 27 Dresses and in The Ugly Truth, but for years, after having seen Miss Congeniality, I pictured Sandra Bullock in the part of Stephanie. I'd given up hope that one of the books would be made into a movie, so hadn't thought about anyone else for Stephanie's part. I just can't see Katherine Heigl in the part. Maybe she'll surprise us.

[Belita]

I don't picture Heigl as Stephanie either. I can see Anne Hathaway playing her. I think Isla Fischer and Reese Witherspoon are shorter than I picture Stephanie.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

I don't picture Heigl as Stephanie either. I can see Anne Hathaway playing her. I think Isla Fischer and Reese Witherspoon are shorter than I picture Stephanie.

I always saw Sandra Bullock as Stephanie, but I like the idea of Anne Hathaway. Too late.

[Meemo]

I disliked Katherine Heigl's role as Izzy in Grey's Anatomy and developed a negative perception of her. Then I recently watched THE UGLY TRUTH and decided she is a talented comedic actor. I think she may surprise you in the Stephanie Plum role.
L.J.

I agree - I think she'll be able to play it - but they've got to get the supporting cast right too, and not totally botch up the script.  (Which I suppose is probably true of all books-to-movies.)

[VictoriaP]

I agree - I think she'll be able to play it - but they've got to get the supporting cast right too, and not totally botch up the script.  (Which I suppose is probably true of all books-to-movies.)

And this is where I expect them to completely and totally screw the whole thing up.  Miscasting either Morelli or Ranger will completely destroy any chance of this being good (and let's face it, casting either is going to be tough).  And they're absolutely certain to demolish the script. 

I can't see any scenario at all where I pay good money to see this thing.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

And this is where I expect them to completely and totally screw the whole thing up.  Miscasting either Morelli or Ranger will completely destroy any chance of this being good (and let's face it, casting either is going to be tough).  And they're absolutely certain to demolish the script. 

I can't see any scenario at all where I pay good money to see this thing.

I'll rent it when the DVD comes out.  After taking the two GK's to the movies yesterday afternoon and spending $50 on tickets and snacks, I'm through with going to the theater.  Except for HP of course, but I'm going alone.

[cheerio]

will wait for revies first

[Cindy416]

You'd think that the script wouldn't be too difficult to write, given the fact that most of each book is dialogue. Too bad J.E. sold the rights. Maybe she had to, but at least she'd get the screenplay written as it should be.

[jonconnington]

Just came across this thread...any idea who should play Morelli, or Ranger? Or Grandma Mazur....

[Virgoddess]

I'm not sure how I feel about Heigl. She was funny in The Ugly Truth, so I'll keep an open mind.

I would love Mark Ruffalo as Joe. Ranger........maybe Jay Hernandez? I'm interested to see who is cast!

[Cindy416]

I'd love to see Betty White as Grandma Mazur. I think Antonio Sabato, Jr. could easily be Morelli. Steve Buscemi would be perfect as Vinnie. I don't know about Ranger. I always pictured him as very tall and muscular, although most other fans of the series have said that he's not tall. (I must have missed the memo.)  How about Benjamin Bratt? I'd love to see Dean Cain somewhere in the mix, but that's just because I've had a thing for him since he was Superman.  Wish we could put Hugh Jackman in there somewhere, but I don't think there's a part for him.  I think Doris Roberts would be great as Stephanie's mother, although she's played similar parts numerous times. I really wanted to see Peter Boyle as Stephanie's dad, but he passed away. (I realize that Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle played the parents in "While You Were Sleeping," but they would have been great as the Plums, too.)

[kellyabell]

I'd love to see Betty White as Grandma Mazur. I think Antonio Sabato, Jr. could easily be Morelli. Steve Buscemi would be perfect as Vinnie. I don't know about Ranger. I always pictured him as very tall and muscular, although most other fans of the series have said that he's not tall. (I must have missed the memo.)  How about Benjamin Bratt? I'd love to see Dean Cain somewhere in the mix, but that's just because I've had a thing for him since he was Superman.  Wish we could put Hugh Jackman in there somewhere, but I don't think there's a part for him.  I think Doris Roberts would be great as Stephanie's mother, although she's played similar parts numerous times. I really wanted to see Peter Boyle as Stephanie's dad, but he passed away. (I realize that Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle played the parents in "While You Were Sleeping," but they would have been great as the Plums, too.)

What a hoot'!  Betty White would be PERFECT as Grandma Mazur if she can get the Jersey accent down.  Doris Roberts is also a good choice.  Ranger....Ahhh... Sexy Ranger....It will have to be someone quiet, Hispanic looking, and tough, How about The Rock?  Although he's been in so many comedic roles he may not be able to pull it off.  I thought he was pretty sexy as The Scorpion King.  Joe??? I don't know about that one.

[Meemo]

I'd love to see Betty White as Grandma Mazur. I think Antonio Sabato, Jr. could easily be Morelli. Steve Buscemi would be perfect as Vinnie. I don't know about Ranger. I always pictured him as very tall and muscular, although most other fans of the series have said that he's not tall. (I must have missed the memo.)  How about Benjamin Bratt? I'd love to see Dean Cain somewhere in the mix, but that's just because I've had a thing for him since he was Superman.  Wish we could put Hugh Jackman in there somewhere, but I don't think there's a part for him.  I think Doris Roberts would be great as Stephanie's mother, although she's played similar parts numerous times. I really wanted to see Peter Boyle as Stephanie's dad, but he passed away. (I realize that Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle played the parents in "While You Were Sleeping," but they would have been great as the Plums, too.)

Betty White would be great as Grandma Mazur!  
I think I'd see Antonio Sabato, Jr. more as Ranger than Morelli  (although I haven't seen him in anything for a while so I don't know how well he's aged).  I still haven't figured out who'd make the perfect Morelli.  Jon Hamm would certainly be nice to look at, he'd do well with Morelli's intensity and he's good at funny.  http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f26c4046b0/lex-luthor-bailout-with-jon-hamm
Not sure who'd make the perfect Ranger - but Benjamin Bratt is a good thought.  
And yep, Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle made a great parenting team, he would've been particularly good as the long-suffering dad.  I'm thinking they should maybe be a tad younger, though.  

[Cindy416]

Betty White would be great as Grandma Mazur!  
I think I'd see Antonio Sabato, Jr. more as Ranger than Morelli  (although I haven't seen him in anything for a while so I don't know how well he's aged).  I still haven't figured out who'd make the perfect Morelli.  Jon Hamm would certainly be nice to look at, he'd do well with Morelli's intensity and he's good at funny.  http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f26c4046b0/lex-luthor-bailout-with-jon-hamm
Not sure who'd make the perfect Ranger - but Benjamin Bratt is a good thought.  
And yep, Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle made a great parenting team, he would've been particularly good as the long-suffering dad.  I'm thinking they should maybe be a tad younger, though.  

Something tells me that Antonio Sabato, Jr. has probably aged very well. (I saw him in something a couple of years ago, and he still looked great.)  I thought of him as Morelli since he's actually Italian.  ;-)  As for Ranger, I always pictured him more along the lines of The Rock, but a lot of people told me that he's not a big guy like that. I picture him as a big guy, myself. I don't picture Morelli as a big guy....just a really hot, good-looking Italian guy. 

Whenever I read the books, I see Sandra Bullock, Betty White, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Steve Buscemi as the characters. I've pictured them that way for years, and have really enjoyed the books by having actual faces that I connect to the characters.  (By the same token, I've always pictured Mike Tyson as Benito Ramirez.)

[Belita]

Something tells me that Antonio Sabato, Jr. has probably aged very well. (I saw him in something a couple of years ago, and he still looked great.)  I thought of him as Morelli since he's actually Italian.  ;-)  As for Ranger, I always pictured him more along the lines of The Rock, but a lot of people told me that he's not a big guy like that. I picture him as a big guy, myself. I don't picture Morelli as a big guy....just a really hot, good-looking Italian guy. 

Whenever I read the books, I see Sandra Bullock, Betty White, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Steve Buscemi as the characters. I've pictured them that way for years, and have really enjoyed the books by having actual faces that I connect to the characters.  (By the same token, I've always pictured Mike Tyson as Benito Ramirez.)

Mike Tyson would be perfect as Benito Ramirez. Same with Betty White, Sandra Bullock (and she's aged well, so I think she could have done it so that's too bad), and Steve Buschemi would be good as Vinnie but I've always pictured Vinnie as bigger than that.

The Rock has the build that I'd pictured for Ranger, but I would not be able to take him seriously enough. I picture an actor like Benjamin Bratt to be too pretty-boy for Ranger. I picture Ranger as having one of those hard, street-smart looking faces, but yet still hot. Or maybe just hot because of how he presents himself more than "traditionally hot." Like Ice-T, although he's older than Ranger.

You know who I could also picture as Grandma Mazur? That little old lady from The Wedding Singer. I don't know if she's still alive, but I think she'd make a great Grandma Mazur.

I think any tall, dark, and handsome actor who is muscular would work. I don't picture anyone in particular for him.

[4Katie]

Morelli and Ranger have been cast! This is from EW.com:



Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata join Katherine Heigl in Stephanie Plum film

Jason O’Mara, the star of ABC’s Life on Mars, has been cast as Joe Morelli in the big-screen adaptation of One for the Money, the first novel in Janet Evanovich’s bestselling Stephanie Plum series, Variety reports. He joins Katherine Heigl, who’s set to play Plum, a newly-divorced, recently laid-off 30-year-old in New Jersey who becomes a bounty hunter. Her first assignment is bringing in Morelli, a former vice cop now wanted for murder. The two have a history — Stephanie lost her virginity to him in high school — so look for sparks to fly in more ways than one. Rescue Me‘s Daniel Sunjata has also been cast as Ranger, the veteran bounty hunter who’ll show her the ropes.

Stephanie Plum fans, do you approve? Evanovich once told EW, “If you want to cry, you’re not going to like my books. If you want a really good plot, you’re not going to like my plots. My books have pizza and cussing and sexy guys.” I therefore accept O’Mara and Sunjata.

I also think they’ve proven they have the right delivery for a comic crime thriller.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/05/12/jason-omara-daniel-sunjata-katherine-heigl-one-for-the-money/

I'm not familiar with either of the actors, so I don't know what to think yet.