Sad news today. Jonathan Demme, best known for directed “The Silence of the Lambs”, for which he won a Best Director Academy Award, has died at 73. Meryl Streep has spoken out on the passing of filmmaker Jonathan Demme, who directed the Oscar winner in 2015’s rocker comedy, “Ricki and the Flash.” In a statement provided to TheWrap, Streep praised Demme as: “A big hearted, big tent, compassionate man- in full embrace in his life of people in need- and of the potential of art, music, poetry and film to fill that need- a big loss to the caring world.” Demme died Wednesday in New York of esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease. He was originally treated for the disease in 2010, but suffered from a recurrence in 2015. His condition deteriorated in recent weeks leading to his passing. In “Ricki and the Flash,” Streep played an aging rocker coming to terms and dealing with the reconciliation of her music life and her family life. “Juno” Oscar winner Diablo Cody wrote the screenplay. Streep sung and played guitar live for the role. Her and Demme were friends prior to making “Ricki the Flash.” Demme’s other credits include “Philadelphia,” “Rachel Getting Married,” “Melvin and Howard,” “Swing Shift” and “Something Wild.”

Meryl has received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work in “The Manchurian Candidate” by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. She shares the category with Cate Blanchett (The Aviator), Heather Craney (Vera Drake), Julie Christie (Finding Neverland) and Natalie Portman (Closer). The awards will be handed out on February 12, 2005. Streep has won the BAFTA Award in 1982 for her performance in “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”.

Meryl Streep has received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for “The Manchurian Candidate”. She shares this category with Cate Blanchett (The Aviator), Laura Linney (Kinsey), Virginia Madsen (Sideways) and Natalie Portman (Closer). This is Streep’s 20th nomination for the Golden Globe, holding the record as most nominated actor in Globe history (she’s also the most Oscar-nominated actress of all times). The Golden Globes will be handed out on January 16, 2005. Congratulations!

The 2004 Venice Film Festival will show “The Manchurian Candidate”. Director Jonathan Demme and his cast, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and John Voigt are expected to attend the festival and the film’s photocall on September 02, 2004. “The Manchurian Candidate” will run out of competition.

With the release of “The Manchurian Candidate”, Entertainment Weekly reported about Angela Lansbury’s displeasure on Meryl Streep taking over the role she performed in the original film. Further it was written that Streep had based her character on senator Hilary Clinton and that Paramount had to cut additional scenes that were too much Clinton. In an interview with NBC, Streep stated that she was disturbed by these reports, adding that her performance was not based on Clinton, but “who says I haven’t modeled it on a man?”. And although Entertainment Weekly stands by its taped interview, Streep reveals that Lansbury called her and denied she made the statements. “She said, ‘I never said this. I love all the people making this. I don’t know who started the rumor.”

The Internet Movie Database has published first release dates for the upcoming “The Manchurian Candidate”, including October 21, 2004 for Germany, October 29, 2004 for the UK and November 03, 2004 for France, a US release date is not yet given. A US release date for “Lemony Snicket A Series of Unfortunate Events” is sheduled for December 25, 2004. Also, Meryl’s upcoming performances in “Chaos”, “Flora Plum” and “Prime” are still unconfirmed

It’s now officially confirmed that Meryl Streep will star in the remake of “The Manchurian Candidate” taking over the part of Mrs. Iselin, which was originally played by Angela Lansbury, Denzel Washington will co-star. Filming is stated to start this September. Thanks to Myla Kent for the info.