In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Jonathan Demme talks about “Ricki and the Flash”, confirming the casting of Kevin Kline and Mamie Gummer and gives insight on what to expect of Meryl’s rock’n’roll character. Now, I’m in heightened pre-production on a feature film, Ricki and the Flash, which we’re going to start shooting on Oct. 1. It’s a great script by Diablo Cody, and Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Mamie Gummer are in the cast. It’s a rock ’n’ roll driven family drama/comedy. Meryl plays Ricki and she’s the rocker. Kevin is the ex—the abandoned husband who lost Ricki to rock ’n’ roll. In our story, they come back together again under grave family circumstances. There’s another part we’re looking to cast of the guitarist who really wants to be Meryl’s boyfriend. Meryl, who is as we know a terrific singer, is a rock ’n’ roller. She loves rock ’n’ roll, and is taking a very personally-crafted approach to Ricki. Ricki’s of a generation of people like Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde, but I think this is going to be a very unique act. The complete interview can be read here.

Two new video clips from 1997 have been added to the archives. First, a video of Meryl Streep hosting a series of portraits for the Womens Commission for Refugee Women and Children. The second video is a television trailer for “First Do No Harm”, which aired on ABC in 1997. Enjoy.

A bunch of additional movie stills have been added to the image library. Updates include Kramer vs. Kramer, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Still of the Night, Sophie’s Choice, Silkwood, Out of Africa, Heartburn, Ironweed (featuring some wonderful on-set pictures), A Cry in the Dark and She-Devil. To launch all last added pictures, click the previews or text links below.

Mike Nichols will direct Meryl Streep in “Master Class”, HBO Films’ adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play of the same name by Terrence McNally, who will adapt his work for the screen, it was announced by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO programming. “We are delighted to welcome back the incomparable Mike Nichols and the gifted Meryl Streep, whose collective brilliance shone on HBO with ‘Angels in America’ almost ten years ago,” said Lombardo. “Terrence McNally’s riveting play about the iconic Maria Callas is the perfect platform for these two consummate talents.” “It is a terrific play written with awareness of a great artist’s process,” says Mike Nichols, “and it will be one great artist playing another.” Master Class will begin production in early 2015, with Nichols, Streep and Celia Costas executive producing. Originally mounted for the stage in 1995 and starring Zoe Caldwell, the Tony Award-winning “Master Class” was inspired by the legendary master classes that operatic great Maria Callas gave in the early ’70s at the Julliard School. Amidst these classes with her hand-picked students, the indomitable Callas challenges her pupils while giving insight into the nature of her art and revealing the highs and lows of her storied life with passion, humor and deep emotion.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Weinstein Company and Walden Media are teaming up with Fathom Events to stream the red carpet premiere to more than 250 theaters across the country, and allow audiences to see the film ahead of its official release. When the film’s premiere takes place at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on August 11, select theaters will stream the event, with some of the stars—including Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift and Brenton Thwaites—speaking directly to theater audiences. And after the red carpet, the moviegoers in those theaters will get to see the film in its entirety. “Fathom Events is proud to partner with TWC and Walden Media to give U.S. audiences the first red carpet premiere event of this scale and the opportunity to see The Giver in theaters,” said John Rubey, CEO of Fathom Events. “In addition to seeing the film before its wide theatrical release, our guests will have an exclusive invitation to join the stars for the full red carpet experience.” To learn more about the screening, continue reading at The Hollywood Reporter

Lots of bits on “The Giver” today. The New York premiere has been set for August 11 – ant the Weinstein Company gives audience members a chance to attend the premiere, via “The Giver Movie Premiere for Good”. The event, in partnership with CrowdRise and Eventbrite, gives movie fans an unparalleled opportunity to attend a major movie premiere with their favorite stars, by participating in an online fundraising campaign for the arts. Beginning today through August 1 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, fans can sign up at www.crowdrise.com/thegiver4good to participate in The Giver Movie Premiere for Good on Eventbrite and then kick-off their fundraising efforts on CrowdRise to attend the premiere. Leveraging Eventbrite’s online seating map, fundraisers can earn the ability to sit near select cast and crew of The Weinstein Company’s The Giver, including Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes and Brenton Thwaites.

After bringing the movie albums in order, the television albums have been updated with high quality versions and a couple of new additions. Since pretty much all albums in this category have been updated, click on any of the previews below to launch the image library.

It’s been very quite about Meryl these days, so not many things to update. However, I did bring the movie albums in order, ranging from 1998 to 2002. All pictures have been sorted and replaced in better quality, and additional pictures have been uploaded as well. Plus, I’ve been working behind the scenes to bring some new features to Simply Streep. So check back soon. To launch all last added pictures, have a look at below’s overview.

There was no way Disney’s upcoming film adaptation of Into the Woods was going to keep every single line, lyric and plot point of Stephen Sondheim’s original musical. And now Sondheim himself has confirmed exactly what we will – or won’t – be seeing. Playbill reports that Sondheim revealed the changes during a chat with a group of high school arts educators. The subject came up after one teacher brought up Into the Woods, expressing concerns that some of its plot points aren’t appropriate material for students to perform. “Well, you’ll be happy to know that Disney had the same objections,” Sondheim replied. For the record, here’s how he stands on the issue of watering down stage productions—in schools and, presumably, other arenas as well: “Censorship is part of our puritanical ethics, and it’s something that [students are] going to have to deal with,” said Sondheim. “There has to be a point at which you don’t compromise anymore, but that may mean that you won’t get anyone to sell your painting or perform your musical.” To read the complete article, please visit Entertainment Weekly. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

According to Page Six, Meryl Streep will play opera legend Maria Callas in a film version of Terrence McNally’s play “Master Class” for HBO. While I didn’t believe this headline at first, it recalled an interview with Stanley Tucci a while ago where he stated that he and Meryl might be working together soon for HBO, so let’s if this turns out true. It would be another formidable role for sure. Mike Nichols will direct the adaptation of the Tony-winning play about iconic diva Callas teaching students at Juilliard in 1971. Hollywood sources say filming will begin in January after Streep tackles another juicy musical project — director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Diablo Cody’s “Ricki and the Flash,” in which Streep plays a fading rock star who tries to reconnect with her estranged kids. “Meryl is learning the tricks of the guitar trade from none other than legendary Neil Young” for that movie, a source tells us.

“Master Class” debuted on Broadway in 1995 starring Australian actress Zoe Caldwell as Callas and co-starring Audra McDonald. Others who’ve tackled the role include Patti LuPone and Tyne Daly. In the play, Callas reminisces about her storied career and personal life, which included being dumped by Aristotle Onassis for Jacqueline Kennedy. One review after the play’s 1995 opening said of Onassis, “The Greek multimillionaire is so rudely and viciously recollected that he virtually becomes an onstage character.” But, “For all of its gossipy tidbits, ‘Master Class’ is an unembarrassed, involving meditation on Callas’s life and the nature of her art.”