Meryl Streep is returning TV, and it’s for a super-hyped project.
Deadline reports that the three-time Oscar-winning actress will star in a limited series adaptation of Jonathan Franzen‘s 2001 novel “The Corrections” over at Netflix, with “American Fiction” director Cord Jefferson on board to helm every episode. In a thrilling role reversal, Netflix bought the rights to adapt Franzen’s book via Paramount TV Studios, outbidding Paramount+ in the process. The news comes mere weeks after the streamer was outbid by Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
It’s also worth noting that HBO had developed its a pilot of “The Corrections” fifteen years ago with Noah Baumbach, who had wanted to make it into a feature film, but that project was continually fraught with issues. The HBO pilot would have starred Chris Cooper, Dianne West, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, and Greta Gerwig.
For those unfamiliar with Franzen’s novel, the National Book Award winner is a comic portrait of a Midwestern family, following three adult siblings who, each in their own way, attempt to resist their mother’s desire to spend one last Christmas together and fail miserably to do so. Streep will play the mother, Enid, and it remains to be seen who will star as the three siblings.
Along with starring, Streep also executive produces the series with Franzen, Jefferson, Mark Roybal, Paul Lee, and former Paramount TV Studios president Nicole Clemens.
“The Corrections” is the latest of several TV projects to enter Netflix’s pipeline in recent months, and the second series order for the streamer of a project originally for Paramount TV Studios; the other one is an upcoming “Little House On The Prairie” reboot, already greenlit for a second season. Other upcoming Netflix shows include “Next Door” with Tessa Thompson, “Rabbit, Rabbit” with Adam Driver, “So Far Gone, “Trigger Point” with Joel Edgerton, Jane Schoenbrun‘s “Black Hole” adaptation, and more.
Streep’s legacy starring in limited series is, like her entire filmography, quite formidable. She’s won two Emmys for her previous two lead roles in them, for NBC‘s “Holocaust” and HBO‘s “Angels In America.” The actress also got Emmy nominations for Supporting Actress in her two other major series roles: HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and Hulu‘s “Only Murders In The Building.” So, it’s safe to say it’ll be a shock if Streep doesn’t earn an Emmy nod for “The Corrections,” much less win for it. Streep stars onscreen next in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in theaters on May 1.
As for Jefferson, he’s no stranger to Emmy wins either; his sole win was for Writing For A Limited Series for HBO’s “Watchmen.” The writer-director also earned an Oscar and BAFTA for his “American Fiction” screenplay.
Stay tuned for more details on “The Corrections,” like who will star opposite Streep, as they arrive.
