Per EW.com: "Jason O’Mara, the star of ABC’s Life on Mars, has been cast as Joe Morelli in Lionsgate’s 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."
Well, O'Mara isn't Jeffrey Donovan but that's ok, IMHO. I did watch him in Life on Mars and he can play a cop, plus he's pretty witty. He is pretty sexy as well.
I remember Daniel Sunjata from The Ghost of Girlfriends Past and thought he was pretty sexy in that movie. Is he Ranger sexy? TBD but he can more than likely pull it off. Lisa thinks he's too girly. LOL
What do GJR readers think?
No, no, no. Katherine Heigl? No. I just can't see her as Stephanie Plum. And those 2 guys do not meet my expectations for Ranger and Morelli.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally bummed. Have been waiting years for them to make the Evanovich books into a movie. I hoped Sandra Bullock would play Stephanie, but she's a little old for the part now.
Still . . . she has the comedic flair for the role and she doesn't look her age.
But Heigl? (shudder)
Guess I'll just forge ahead with my plan to read the last couple of books (I'm a bit behind) & continue with my own fantasies . . . When I see a trailer, I'll decide if I think I can sit through a movie starring those 3.
JHS
Colloquium
Sunjata, girlie?!! Lmfaooooo uh not. Apparently she hasn't seen his macho swagger as Franko on Rescue Me. IMHO I think Sunjata is just a phenom who can act like a gay designer in Devil Wears Prada OR act like an alpha male stud depending on the demands of the role. They cast him for a reason people. And I can't think of a better Ranger to be quite honest. A different Ranger? Sure. But better? No way no how. Girley he is most definitely not.
ReplyDeleteHeigl completely ruins this for me... so my ambivalence to this casting is no surprise.
ReplyDeleteThis went from being a "must see in theatres" movie to being an "I'll put it on my Blockbuster list sometime after the DVDs released"... maybe. :(
I think we all can agree that KH isn't our first pick but I'll wait to pass judgement on if she's good when I see the movie.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said I like KH she just isn't whom I pictured for Stephanie.
Plus I'm kind of off the series now so I'm not sure if I feel that passionate about it anymore.
Let me explain... Daniel Sunjata is just way too pretty (i.e. girly) for me. Something about the eyes. He doesn't do it for me now and nor did I ever buy him as a womanizer in Rescue Me. I can appreciate his good looks, but I can't see him pulling off the sexy, macho, impatient yet indifferent mysteriousness that is Ranger.
ReplyDeleteTherein lies the problem I believe. We've all pictured this cast in a certain way over the course of 20 or so books. That's a lot of time for that picture to solidify in our minds. Truthfully, I have to believe that the producers couldn't be fans of the series. I may be wrong here, but there's little variance amongst the fans as to who would make a good "Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli". True fans, get this cast.
As a fan, I just see one casting debacle after another. As a business woman and a realistic movie goer, I already know this is about more about money than it is about pleasing fans. Up and comers who can carry a series and can bring in the cash as well as the desirable ad demo - bring it on.
To be continued, I suppose. Only time and a trailer will tell...
BTW - I am kinda ok with Jason O'Mara as Morelli.
interesting comments here. i disagree about sunjata as ranger though. read every single book, am definitely a true fan, and I think he fits like a glove. girly he is definitely not. girl magnet he most definitely is. and i think he exudes machismo alpha maleness. does he have dimples and pretty eyes? hell yes. so does darren sharper and the rock for that matter. time will tell.
ReplyDeleteHeigl does't visually resemble my mental image of Stephanie; however, when I read (and listen) to the Plum series, I don't spend a significant amount of time visualizing the characters. So I don't get the big deal about her not 'looking' like Stephanie. Personality wise, I think Heighl is PERFECT fit. . . The same goes for the casting for the leading men. I think they will capture the charactters very well, but we will see.. . My only comment is that Heigl better get to the tanning salon cuz pale and Jersey just don't go together... ;)
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed to learn that katherine Heighl is playing Stephanie Plum. LIONSGATE please reconsider!! Sandra Bullock should be Stephanie, Benjamin Bratt should be Morelli and The Rock Duane Johnson should be Ranger!!!
ReplyDeleteHeigl, most definately no. Sunjata isn't bad for the role, I can picture him as Ranger. Would I have casted him no, but he could work. What I can't stand is O'Mara as Morelli. WTF...did they just pick a name out of a basket? He's too old, and doesn't have the movie star type good looks that Stephanie constantly refers to him as having in the books. I think almost anyone they could've picked would have been a better choice.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Sandra Bullock should play Stephanie (no kidding - so does everyone else, including Janet Evanovich!)
ReplyDeleteThese 2 guys don't do it for me when it comes to Morelli and Ranger. I agree that Dwayne Johnson should be Ranger and always thought Hugh Jackman should play Morelli. Not sure if I'll go see it now.
Still love the books!
I think the movie casting people are a bunch of pigs and & I think that this movie will really be a horrible the only reason I say that is because the have a female playing for every role class except for a fire fighter get with the times females are fire fighters now so my advice to the movie people would be quite being sexiest pigs and get with the times the only reason I know this info is because they filmed in my town and I seen the cast.
ReplyDeleteI love these books and I don't think Katherine is a bad choice (saw some pics from set and she was way cute) but TOTALLY disappointed with Morelli and Ranger choices...nothing like I would have pictured at all. I'm not sure that I can go see this movie..it will ruin the beautiful fantasies I have when I read about those two guys... ;)
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about casting. We've talked about Stephanie, Morelli, Ranger. We've covered Lula, Grandma Mazur, Vinnie and Joyce. But we're missing one VERY important character. This LEAD role has not been mentioned at all:
ReplyDeleteWHO IS GOING TO PLAY THE HAMSTER???
Lol!
KH will probably do a great job, she has had some funny movies. But I picture Ranger with a Rock-like body. Hey, how about the Rock? Think about it. O'mara is a cutie, he can play Morelli.
ReplyDeleteI was sufficiently disappointed in who they cast for Morelli. My mind pictured a tanner Freddy Rodriguez as morelli.
ReplyDeleteI posted once already but ive done a little bit more research on who i think would be better actors for this film.
ReplyDeleteRanger / Dwayne Johnson
Morelli/ Freddy Rodriguez
Stephanie/ Sandra bullock
Lula/ Mo'nique
Joyce/ Evan Racheal Wood (or possibly Shenea Grimes or Isla Fischer)
Im not too familier with a lot of famous actors, but from who i know i think those would be more accurate.
I like the idea of O'mara playing morelli, I always pictured the bald guy from SVU and could never get a lock on Ranger, the Rock didn't seem smuldering enough after Tooth Fairy :) KH Looks good in the poster, but i couldn't pin Stephanie down either. I hope she works but like Julie, i'm pretty much off the series but keep reading as I hate to have unfinished business lol
ReplyDelete