How Meryl Streep Joined Only Murders in the Building

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How Meryl Streep Joined Only Murders in the Building

As a die-hard fan of both Meryl Streep and Only Murders in the Building, I can confidently say that John Hoffman’s ingenious move to cast the legendary actress in the hit Hulu series was nothing short of genius. The way she seamlessly slipped into the role of Loretta Durkin, with her impeccable acting skills and magnetic presence, left me utterly spellbound.

The creator of “Only Murders in the Building”, John Hoffman, amusingly revealed how Meryl Streep came to be part of the cast. Initially, Hoffman proposed Streep as the ideal candidate for the role of Loretta Durkin, a performer who could astound casting directors with her exceptional talent and aura, much like Streep does herself.

Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal, the creators of Only Murders in the Building, were skeptical that Hoffman could persuade Meryl Streep to take on the role, given her high-profile status and impressive collection of awards. When Hoffman expressed his confidence that she’d be ideal for the part, their response was essentially, “You’ve got a tough task ahead, John.” According to Hoffman, this conversation took place during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

As a long-time fan and admirer of Meryl Streep’s incredible talent, it feels surreal to have had the opportunity to work with her on our show. It all started when I was brainstorming ideas for the opening scene of season three with Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal. We envisioned an actress walking onto a stage, auditioning for a part, and our lead character, Oliver, being taken aback by both her talent and the woman before him. In a moment of spontaneity, I suggested Meryl Streep as the ideal actress for the role. To my surprise, Dan and Jess reacted with skepticism, saying “Good luck with that, John.”

As a movie enthusiast, I found it destiny when Hoffman and Streep connected over her role in “Only Murders in the Building.” In a serendipitous twist, he introduced her to the character Loretta Durkin by delving into her backstory, unknowingly revealing that it mirrored Streep’s own childhood experience of watching “No Strings” on Broadway.

Parallel to this, it was Hoffman’s intention to cast Meryl Streep as Putnam’s love interest well before he even broached the subject during casting discussions. Unrelated to his decision, rumors circulated off-screen about a romantic relationship between Streep and Short, but these were just coincidental in Hoffman’s choice to hire Streep for the role.

Only Murders in the Building Has Been a Staggering Success Story

How Meryl Streep Joined Only Murders in the BuildingHow Meryl Streep Joined Only Murders in the BuildingHow Meryl Streep Joined Only Murders in the Building

The TV show Only Murders in the Building focuses on amateur sleuths Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) who live in the same apartment building. As they delve into a real-life murder case happening within their complex, they find themselves caught up in an intricate network of deceit that has captivated viewers throughout its three seasons.

A highly praised show such as “Only Murders in the Building” certainly manages to draw in an esteemed actress like Meryl Streep. Interestingly, this Hulu series has also been graced by a succession of gifted actors, including Sting, Nathan Lane, Melissa McCarthy, and Kumail Nanjiani.

Meryl Streep gave an outstanding performance as Loretta Durkin in Season 3, and she’s set to join the cast of “Only Murders in the Building” for more unexpected developments in the upcoming season. The fourth season will also welcome a number of guest stars such as Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, and Zach Galifianakis, along with others, maintaining the high level of stardom as Season 4 readies to premiere.

Beginning August 27, fresh installments of “Only Murders in the Building” will drop every week on Hulu, marking the start of its fourth season.

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2024-08-15 03:01