Chick Lit Turned Chick Movie

Parker Grey movie possibilities

A recent Hollywood Reporter piece about the resurgence of chick films based on chick literature made us wonder how many of these films will actually make it to the screen, as there's a little something called development hell (will Gothamist ever see The Alienist on screen?) standing in between the deal and actual production.

One book that seems to be moving along towards life as a movie is The Parker Grey Show, which we reviewed earlier this summer Gothamist hears that the screenplay is out to directors, under the watchful eye of producers Ted Hope and Ann Carey, whose past credits include American Splendor, Lovely & Amazing, The Ice Storm, and the upcoming NY Film Festival closer, 21 Grams, starring Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Naomi Watts. Kate Hudson is interested in playing Parker, but as she's pregnant and may drop out, we suggest Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Scarlett Johanssen, actresses who can play both fun and full-of-pathos - without being schticky and pathetic. Unknown is who will play M, the dashing, foreign "I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV" actor, who bears more than a striking resemblance to ER's Dune-loving Goran Visnjic, he of the smoldering Croatian eyes. (Of course Goran himself would be great, but would that be too meta?) We're thinking Anna Paquin or Judy Greer for Parker's nutty friend Lil, William Fichtner for the conspiracy theorist bartender, and Christopher Plummer for Smith.

Read Parker Grey and let us know who you think should be cast.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment, Miscellaneous on September 2, 2003 1:31 PM

Comments [rss]

Ari

Dahl doll...

{sorry, it was too hard to resist} I think the Colin Firth character becomes George Clooney. I believe that was what I'd heard. Hmm... Colin, George and Hugh... damn.

clea

I think Michelle Williams is superb. I have seen her in two plays, and she was absolutely fantastic in both, winning rave reviews. She was excellent in the aforementionted Me Without You and contributes a very nice, supporting turn in current critic favorite The Station Agent. I think she'd be great.

ragtag

I prefer "chick lick"

stephanie

angelina jolie cannot do chick movies, it just doesn't suit her

Beth

Why not Sophia Coppola? Could be a great change of pace for her.

Jen

I hear the script is out to Spike Jonze and Dean Parisot (Home Fries, Galaxy Quest).

Jack

Let's talk directors. Who's game?

meg

I was thinking Nora Jones as well. But the acting thing is a question.

Val

Love Avril - but who knows if she can act. If you go with a singer, try Nora Jones - she has the great Parker hair.

Danielle

Kooky idea - Avril Lavigne? Kelly Osbourne as her friend Lil??? What about Angleina Jolie? Too vampish?

Peta

I also love the girl on Gilmore Girls that was in Tuck Everlasting - she has the hair - Alexis Bledel

Kristen

I like that girl on Smallville as well -- she has an amazing look -- I also like Natalie Portman a lot as well... Winona was discussed but ultimately deemed too insane

Peta

Maybe it would be cool to cast a hot TV actress to play on the fact that Parker lives in her own TV show - Katie Holmes is wonderful in a new movie called Pieces of April. I love this new girl, Misha Barton, who is on the OC - but she's very young. I also love the girl on Smallville - she's half Asian. What about Natalie Portman? She's growing up and she's a Long Island Girl. Too bad Winona is looney tunes.

Moira

Yes... Viggo would be great. Viggo and Liv maybe.

Kristen

Danielle: Raymond Bongiovanni was indeed my mentor - he was completely brilliant and responsible for some great books being turned into film -- like Fight Club for example (his name is at the end of that movie as well). Ewan is a great name... too bad most people pronounce it Eee - wan thus causing most guys named Ewan to go by a nickname... like Jack for instance.

Anne

However, the casting choice that I want to know, is WHO will play the downstairs sleeping farting neighbor?

hmmmm?

Anne

Oooh, like that idea with the look change during the Parker Grey show. Very cool.

Anne

Danielle

Kristen - great to have you on line - loved the book - a few questions about the book. Who is Raymond Bongiovanni? I see you wrote the book in his memory. A mentor perhaps? On your "thanks" page, you list The Team at Endeavor - are they your agents? I hear they are quite good. Also, you list a guy named "Ewan" - I love Ewan MacGregor - is this guy Scottish too? It's an unusual name.

Candi

Kristen - who would you like to see play Vaughn - and all the other characters for that matter?

Kristen

Ah... a question I can help with. Trudy and Caroline have been merged into Vaughn... and the entire notion of 'the show' has been expanded so that whenever Parker is in 'show mode' (her coping mechanism) the entire look and feel of the movie will change into The Parker Grey Show (which is an Alias/La Femme Nikita hybrid)... Lots of gun metal greys and karate fights and car chases etc... oh and of course, Parker looking svelt in black. Everything else is pretty much the same...