Cast This! Steve McQueen's Actressful Gangster Movie 'Widows'
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 11:30PM 
The story: three armed robbers are killed during a planned heist, leaving behind three widows. Under pressure from the police and rivals to their late husbands' crime business, they team up to carry out the robbery themselves, enlisting another widow in the process. CEO of New Regency Brad Wilson, who financed 12 Years and will be producing again on this project, said it will be McQueen's "own version of a gangster film..[it] gives him the commercial jumping-off point, but then allows him to twist it into a Steve McQueen film."
Now, doesn't that just make you say "Oooooh"?
The film will take place in a modern-day American city instead of in the U.K., and will likely end up with a different title, but promises to be a showcase for four actressing talents. The plan is to be in pre-production by year's end.
Naturally, our question here at TFE is who should play the widows? Detailed character information is frustratingly scarce, but the parts are Dolly (the woman they turn to leadership), Shirley, Linda, and the addition to their group is Bella. The property has been dramatized three times with two British series (one in the 80s and one in the 90s) and an American mini in 2002 with Mercedes Reuhl & Rosie Perez. Did any of you see the latter?
My picks would be Michelle Pfeiffer for Dolly (Married to the Mob, you guys!), with Rosario Dawson, Jenny Slate, and Lupita Nyong'o filling out the rest of the team.
Make a case for your dream cast in the comments!
Reader Comments (35)
Julie Walters for Dolly
The other three:
Regina King
Maria Conchita Alonzo
Ashley Greene
Viola Davis (Dolly), Laura Linney, Joan Allen, Carmen Ejogo ... I want to see that now.
Marisa Tomei, Michelle Yeoh, Brie Larson, and Lupita Nyong'o.
All members of the under utilised, extremely talented club.
Kathleen Turner as Dolly
Mariah Carey, Sofia Vergara and Christina Hendricks as the others.
Lorraine Touissant, Taraji P Henson, Amy Ryan, and Judy Greer.
If we can include roles for Dale Dickey, Jacki Weaver, and Parker Posey I'm sold.
Lucy Liu, Elizabeth Moss, Michelle Rodriguez, Christina Hendricks
Streep, Chastain, Adams and Lawrence.
Okay, now that we've gotten that out of our system:
Alfre Woodard, Mary Louise Parker, Anika Noni Rose, Taryn Manning
This sounds like SET IT OFF.
Laura Linney, Joan Allen, Mo'Nique, and TILDA.
Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Marion Cotillard, Viola Davis.
I seriously cannot choose. Too many actresses I'd love to see. But I'm loving the suggestions I'm seeing, especially all that diversity. I'd have to get more character description to choose, but some of my fav suggestions include... Michelle Pfeiffer, Lorraine Touissant, Jacki Weaver, Lucy Liu, Tilda, Mo'Nique, Christina Hendricks, etc
I'd also say why not bring back Rosie Perez... and also throw in Evan Rachel Wood, Drew Barrymore, Angela Bassett, Holly Hunter, and Idk, Anne Hathaway?
I want to cast Streep just to give her a chance of collaborating with a true auteur
I would set it back to UK and cast Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, Olivia Colman and Nikki Amuka-Bird.
Other options If those were unavailable: Julie Walters, Zoe Wanamaker, Janet McTeer, Juliet Stevenson, Lindsay Duncan, Harriet Walter, Alison Steadman, Brenda Blethyn, Pauline Collins... you get my point, right?
Viola Davis, Sarah Paulson, Regina King, Sophie Okonedo.
Margaret de Larios is such a good name, by the way. Love it.
Not Streep - a talented, lovely lady but there are other actresses out there! Viola Davis would be my number one choice for Dolly, then a nice mix Keira Knightley, Lupita Nyong'o and Melissa McCarthy.
Top Picks: Angela Bassett, Kirsten Dunst, Sandra Oh and Michelle Pfeiffer
Back-ups: Annette Bening, Rose Byrne, Jacki Weaver, Gong Li, Rosamund Pike
Anjelica Huston
Marion Cotillard
Sarah Paulson
Lupita Nyong'o
Lesley Manville, Melissa Leo, Sissy Spacek, and of course Pfeiffer - how unusual would it be to have a main cast of 50+ y.o. talented actresses still at their peak of acting prowess?
Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Stockard Channing....oh, wait...I got it, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Cher and Veronica Cartwright. Oh, fuck!
Imagine the fun:
Sally Field
Mary Louise-Parker
Chloe Sevigny
Anna Faris
Too. many. options.
Between this and Ghostbusters, I'd fail at being a casting director so hard right now.
If it's gonna be a McQueen strictly dramatic vehicle, I'd love for him to use Sarah Paulson again since he got some good magic out of her last time and I think she got within spitting distance of that Supporting Actress lineup. Maybe a bigger role for Alfre Woodard too since she was A++ in her part last time she worked with him as well.
Kinda don't care and am just glad he's casting women for once....
but whoever said Olivia Colman was right. YESSSSSSSSS OLIVIAAAAAAAA
I want to cast Streep just to give her a chance of collaborating with a true auteur
Are you questioning the auteur credentials of the late Mike Nichols? Or her recent voice-over work with Spielberg (A.I.), Fantastic Mr Fox (Wes Anderson), Robert Altman's last movie that was shadowed with Paul Thomas Anderson onset everyday. She worked with Woody Allen just when it was beginning to be fashionable. And let us not forget the most auteur-driven thing she's ever participated in Adaptation (2002). Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman remain current and provocative. If I'm being honest about the 2002 ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE race Streep should have swept the season.
^^This.
3rtful? I'm in shock. What did you do to the real 3rtful? Was that a positive comment on Meryl Streep that you just posted? what world is this? ;)
Davis,Bassett,N'yongo,Mo'nique.
Melissa McCarthy, Amy Adams, Kristen Wiig and Emma Stone.....for Ghostbusters!! ;)
Judy Davis, Maria Bello, Laura Dern, Winona Ryder
It looks like we should have WAY more movies with four actresses in them.
I'd like Geena Davis as the leader.
Plus:
Sarah Paulson
Melanie Lynskey
Sandra Oh
Glenn Close as the leader (but if it's an older actress for this part, you know Meryl will get first dibs)
Then I'd round out the cast with:
Olivia Williams (make one of the ladies British, at least)
Tina Fey (the funny one)
Lupita N'yongo (the young black one)
Omg, Kirsten Dunst, yes! How could I forget Kiki ;(
Sarah Paulson, Regina King yesss
Bette Midler and Stockard Channing, yesss...okay maybe I just really love them lol.
Maybe Cameron Diaz too? I don't know.
UGH why are there so few juicy roles for actresses?! This is torture. I love so many of these actresses and want them to have the chance to really attack some great material. I hope this doesn't go to any of the usual suspects...
Glenn Close too! Yesss
As I said before, too many options
lol
Oh my goodness, I remember watching this series as a kid - it was brilliant. I'm going to rewatch it on youtube as they've got the eps up. The lead woman used to scare me...
Hmmm, I'm thinking Sissy Spacek, Sophie Okonedo, Sarah Paulson, Summer Glau.
It looks like I have an 's' thing going on...
Whoever is only posting all-white casts...i'm glad you are not the casting director/ makers of this movie.