Meryl Streep really wanted a part in Little Women, and what Meryl Streep wants, Meryl Streep gets. The three-time Oscar winner and 21-time(!) nominee is a member of the A-list cast for Sony’s star-studded Christmas Day release, and as writer-director Greta Gerwig explained, the living legend wanted to be involved from the start:
She said she wanted to be part of it. She loved the book so much when she was a girl, and she thinks [it’s] so important, and she says, ‘Tell me what you’d like me to do.’ I was like, ‘Yes, ma’am.’
Meryl Streep is the kind of actor whose talent instantly elevates any project she’s in and the kind of name a filmmaker hopes to land in a perfect world where their dream casting comes true. But for Little Women, Greta Gerwig didn’t have to do any convincing because as she told Entertainment Weekly, Meryl Streep wanted to be a part of it, and you obviously don’t say no to Meryl Streep.
According to Greta Gerwig, Meryl Streep wanted to be a part of Little Women because she grew loving Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel and believed that it is still important, presumably referring to the 19th century book’s relevant themes about family, independence, women’s rights and poverty, among others. Because of her love and appreciation for the material and personal connection to it, Meryl Streep want to be involved with the new film in any way she could.
That had to be pretty great for Greta Gerwig to have one of the greatest living actors so eager and willing to be a part of what is only her second solo directing effort after Lady Bird. As Greta Gerwig recalled, Meryl Streep simply asked her what she wanted her to do and Greta Gerwig was more than happy to oblige. Meryl Streep was cast as Aunt March, the rich, overbearing and judgmental great aunt of the quartet of the sisters at the center of the story.
Of course, Meryl Streep isn’t the only highlight of this film’s cast. If you saw the trailer for Little Women that debuted yesterday, you probably recognized a lot of familiar faces because Greta Gerwig’s adaptation is positively stacked with talent, from up-and-comers like Timothée Chalamet and Florence Pugh, to established talent like Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan, to true vets like Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk and Chris Cooper. It's perhaps the best cast this side of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Dune and The Irishman.
While I don’t imagine Meryl Streep does many projects she isn’t interested in at this point in her career, it’s cool that she so enthusiastically joined Little Women. She’ll bring it regardless of what role she’s playing, but the fact that she got to be a part of something that she feels so strongly about it is nice to hear.
Little Women opens in theaters on Christmas Day. There are plenty of other movies arriving before the end of the year, so check them out in our premiere guide and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest movie news.
