Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro made for a good on-screen couple in the likes of The Deer Hunter and the more romantic **Falling In Love **(among others) so it makes sense that to reunite them. Now the team behind FilmNation has picked up the rights to Ann Leary’s book The Good House for the pair to star in.
Michael Cunningham, who wrote The Hours (itself adapted into a film featuring Streep) is aboard to script the movie, which will be told through the eyes of Streep’s Hildy Good. She’s an estate agent in New England losing her grip on a usually well-organised life thanks to a drinking issue and her new friendship with a woman named Rebecca McCallister.
At the same time, she starts seeing an old flame in the shape of Frank Getchell (De Niro), who wants to help her sort things out. “Ann Leary has an intoxicating voice and created a truly original character in Hildy Good,” says De Niro’s producing partner Jane Rosenthal, who will oversee things. "When I read the book, I was only sorry it ended – but so thrilled that we’ll be able to bring it to the screen with Meryl Streep as the irresistible Hildy. It’s the perfect project to work on with Michael Cunningham and we are excited to be doing this in partnership with FilmNation, as they were equally passionate about Ann’s characters.”
In related Streep news – but only Streep this time – she’s also joined the cast of Phillip Noyce’s** The Giver, adapted from Louis Lowry’s book. Streep joins Jeff Bridges and Brenton Thwaites in the adaptation of Lois Lowry’s novel, set in a grey dystopian future society where everything must be the same and freedom is outlawed. In this chilling realm, human history has been erased, emotions are removed and everyone’s job is chosen for them. Think **Equilibrium **with less gun kata, we guess.
Thwaites will be Jonas, the community's Receiver Of Memories, who is allowed a peek at the lies that underpin this society. He’s mentored by Bridges’ Giver, and slowly starts to yearn for freedom and honesty, which makes him an outcast. Streep is set as the chief elder, the dictatorial type looking to maintain order. Playing Margaret Thatcher will have been good practice for that…