Theater News

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman to Star in Doubt Film

Meryl Streep(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)
Meryl Streep
(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Academy Award winners Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman will play the roles of Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn in the film version of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt, according to Variety. Shanley will direct the film, which is slated to begin filming on December 1. No additional casting has yet been announced. Scott Rudin will produce the film, which will be released by Miramax.

These roles were originated on Broadway by Cherry Jones, who won a Tony Award for her performance, and Brían F. O’Byrne. Jones is currently starring in a national touring production of the play that will wrap up later this spring.

Streep and Hoffman previously worked together, playing mother and son, in The Public Theater’s production of The Seagull at the Delacorte in Central Park. Streep has won Oscars for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie’s Choice. Hoffman won an Oscar for Capote; he is currently on stage in the LAByrinth production of Jack Goes Boating.

Before starting Doubt, Streep will film the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, playing opposite Pierce Brosnan. According to other published reports this week, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, and Colin Firth have also joined that film’s cast.