There is absolutely no doubt that the Stacy Johnson-Klein story will become a movie. Like "Erin Brockovich," it's a story that writes itself. The timing is perfect, what with all those screenwriters looking for something to do during breaks from the picket lines. I'll bet someone's got a treatment cooking already. If the writers' strike ends, this script could be sold in time for March Madness.
At The Bee, journalism is our day (and sometimes night) job, but when the sun goes down or it's lunch time, we transform into amateur casting directors. We are already working on this one.
Here are some of the suggestions so far. Please, jump in and post your own.
Rick Bentley is our movie reviewer, and he made it into such a big deal that I thought he was going to ask for a screen credit.
"If this is a major theatrical release, then I would suggest Reese Witherspoon as Stacy. If it is a made-for-TV project, then [Katherine] Heigl would work. If it is a cable movie, then Shannen Doherty would slap on a wig. If it is a Lifetime movie, then Jean Smart would play Stacy, as the story is lovingly told in flashback. A Disney movie would have Hannah Montana in a musical version. If it was a Jerry Brookheimer movie, then Angelina Jolie would have to defend the courthouse when aliens invade. The Sci-Fi channel would cast Jeri Ryan as a future version of Stacy, who travels back in time to warn her present-day self of the perils. Then there is always Playboy's version, but no one would really care who is cast in the lead."
Donald Munro, also a reviewer, suggests Laura Dern as Stacy, Peter Gallagher as Scott Johnson, Tom Wilkinson as John Welty.
Among the rest of us, the other suggestions I've heard for Stacy include Charlize Theron, Jenny McCarthy, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz. Or my husband's selection -- Stacy starring as herself.
For Scott Johnson, William Shatner playing his slimy "Boston Legal" personna came to mind.
We still have a long way to go. Chime in with your casting calls for the whole, dramatic David and Goliath story. We have the heroines, Lindy Vivas, Diane Multinovich, Margie Wright. Then there are the hotel-room partiers. Don't forget the legal contingent: Dawn Theodora, Warren Paboojian, Dan Siegel, Mick Marderosian, Judge Donald S. Black. Don't forget the wild bunch at Fresno State: Randy Welniak, Adrian Wiggins, Jeannine Raymond, Ray Lopes, Chantella Perera, Drew Champagne etc.
We are also working on the Larissa Schuster movie, with the top suggestion for Larissa being Charles Durning; Jon Cryer as Timothy Schuster, Kathy Bates as the "thumbs up" juror and Rosie O'Donnell as the "eating juror." No ideas yet for James Fagone.
I have some casting ideas too!
How about Glenn Close as Stacy and Michael Douglas as John Welty !
THEN title the movie "FATAL REPULSION"
P.S. Concerning the Larissa Schuster movie........(where she will be either acquitted or receives an extremely reduced sentence) the title of the movie should be "THE QUEEN OF DA-NILE"
Then again the hubby deserved it. Yeah sure.
Hmmm. And who will play Sen. Dean Florez, who grilled John Welty like a salmon filet during a recent hearing. One suggestion from a colleague was... Jimmy Smits... Florez is another one who could easily play himself.
It is definately a made for tv movie or a lifetime movie. This would get it out there about the injustice that face many women in the workplace. We don't have to take it anymore. PS They can't find somweone evil and ugly enough to play Larissa.
I bet Stacy Johnson Klein and Erin Brockovich meet and relate quite well to each other.
Brokovich and Klein meeting would be two strong women that fight for what they believe in and what is right.
I think the cast of "My Name is Earl" would fit this story just fine. Jaime Pressley as SJK is perfect, with Jason Lee as Welty and Ethan Supplee as Scott Johnson. Heck, the whole trial played out like an episode of "Earl" anyway.
P.S. On the Larissa Shuster movie I think the guy that played Jim Belushi's brother-in-law on "According to Jim" looks just like her.
Ithink even he looks better than Larissa. Guilt doesn't look good on her.