There are news on Mike Nichols’ planned “Great Hope Springs”. After Jeff Bridges’ department from the project, sources are now reporting on James Gandolfini joining Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the drama. Streep and Gandolfini would play a married couple who undergo intense couples therapy to see if they want to continue their 30-year-marriage. Hoffman would play the therapist. According to Vulture, no deals have been signed, but all parties are highly interested, and recently even did a table read.

Actress Meryl Streep is visiting Washington to call for the creation of a National Women’s History Museum on the National Mall. Streep will join Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney on Tuesday night to support the purchase of federal property at 12th Street and Independence Avenue in southwest Washington to build the museum. The House passed legislation last year that would authorize the museum. A vote is pending in the Senate. Streep is an honorary board member for the group working to build the museum and serves as its national spokeswoman.

Edit: Many thanks to Tina M. for letting me know about this report on yesterday’s event and Meryl’s appearance. You can watch it below.

Three documentaries with Meryl – including one about Meryl – will be released on DVD in the USA these coming days, so here’s an overview on what can be watched soon on disc. First is the Biography Channel’s documentary on Meryl Streep. It originally aired in December 2008 and features a couple of interviews with Meryl from various shows and remarks by film experts. The DVD will be released on September 28, 2010. Thanks to Andrea and Judy for the heads-up on this. Then, the outstanding documentary “Theater of War“, following the cast and crew of the 2006 Public Theater production of “Mother Courage and her Children” (see preview), makes it R1 debut on October 19, 2010. And on November 09, 2010, another remarkable documentary will make it to DVD – “I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale” chronicles the exceptional professional and unfortunately short life of actor John Cazale (see preview), and included interview with the heavyweights he’s worked with as well as the many admirers he’s found among actors.

For the second year in a row, Barilla is encouraging families to “Share the Table” and Mario Batali, Julianne Moore and 10 other notable celebrities have joined together to create the limited edition Celebrity Pasta Lovers’ Cookbook. Available until October 15 at www.ShareTheTable.com, the free cookbook is packed with family meal-sharing tips and exclusive new Mario Batali recipes inspired by favorite pasta dishes from celebrities including Meryl Streep, Andy Roddick and Jimmy Fallon. Barilla’s Share the Table initiative was created to help families make the most of their shared meals through a host of expert and celebrity tips, recipes, giveaways and more – all available at www.ShareTheTable.com. When consumers affirm their belief in meaningful meals, they are also helping to make a difference in the lives of others. For every visitor who clicks on the icon that says they believe in meaningful meals, Barilla will donate $1 to Meals On Wheels Association of America, up to $150,000, and consumers then download the free cookbook – including Meryl’s recipe for Penne with Cauliflower, toasted pine nuts and romano cheese. Many thanks to Jaclyn for letting me know about this!

With many thanks to Simona, scans from three Italian magazines have been added to the Image Library. The most recent addition is an interview with Grazia magazine (September 2010, try English translation here). Then, two 2009 articles from Tu Style (October) and Marie Claire (August). Thanks very much, Simona! Also, stay tuned for more article additions, inclunding many new scans from the 1970s and 1980s, coming up!

Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2010 > Grazia (Italy, September 2010)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Tu Style (Italy, October 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Marie Claire (Italy, August 2009)

While there haven’t been any news on the reported Meryl Streep/Tina Fey collaboration in the Stanley Tucci directed “Mommy & Me” since the original announcement back in June (read here), Stanley Tucci has now talked a bit about the current development of the project in an interview with Collider. As of now, now script has been written. The part can be read below and after the cut.

ST: This movie I’m going to do next year if we get a script and get everything together with Tina Fey and Meryl Streep will be the first time I’ve ever directed a studio picture. So obviously there are going to have to be some adjustments on my part. But still, for the most part, it’s an intimate comedy.

With many thanks to Simona, some amazing scans from the September issue of the Italian OK Salute magazine have been added to the Image Library, featuring a brand new photoshoot of Meryl. The magazine is currently on newsstands.

With many thanks to the great Alvaro, combined with a couple of pictures from my personal collection, a variety of rare theatre pictures have been added to the Image Library. Included are some early shots from her years at the Yale Repertory Theater, her performances in A Memory of Two Mondays, The Cherry Orchard, Henry V, and Taken in Marriage, among others. All pictures can be accessed by clicking the previews below. Additionally, the theater pages have been updated with background information and reviews on the plays. Enjoy!

With many thanks to Tina, here comes another great video from the “Directors” series. In this episode (which was apparently shot on the same day as her interview segment on Wes Craven), Meryl talks about Clint Eastwood. Enjoy!

With many thanks to dvdguy2011, here comes another great find from the past. In 1986, Meryl hosted a public service announcement for “Amnesty International”. The clip can be watched in the video archive, a transcript of her speech is below the preview.

All dictators have fantasies that they can suffocate and divide people in their own country. We know that what they’re afraid of most is world opinion and criticism of their tyranny. Your efforts and prayers saved my life. And thanks to your support I can have an opportunity to live as a human being. A letter sent to us at Amnesty International by a released prisoner of conscience, the republic of Korea. Join us, you’ll never forget the first prisoner you free.