Janet Evanovich Book Group discussion

Ok, so what that we're about six months away from studio heads discussing box office receipts, and the obvious decision on to whether to green light a sequel or not? The question I wanna pose to everyone is who would you cast in the sequel, Two for the Dough, aside from the actors who have already been cast as the main characters in the series. This question can also apply to any of her following books as well. Apologizes to the moderator if this topic already exists somewhere on this group page.

I have been reading back to back books in this series and I cannot remember where Mooner comes in....but John Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) needs to be cast as Mooner.

Spiro Stiva when I was reading it I imagined the kid in the movie Wedding Crashers that was gay and had the crush on Vince Vaughn's character. His name was Todd in the movie. The actor is Keir O'Donnell. But in my head he would only work if he was as greasy as he was in wedding crashers

Constantine Stiva I imagined either Christopher Walkin or James Rebhorn (Lane Frost's Dad in the movie 8 Seconds).

Joyce - either Debra Messing or Kate Walsh

Dickie - For some reason I have pictured Jeremy Piven. I don't know why. That is just who my mind has gone to when I think of Dickie Orr

I think that John Heder as Mooner and Kate Walsh as Joyce are excellent suggestions!

Jacque wrote: "I have been reading back to back books in this series and I cannot remember where Mooner comes in....but John Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) needs to be cast as Mooner.

Spiro Stiva when I was reading..."

I love your suggestions! Especially Debra Messing and Christopher Walken.

I love the Mooner pick too!!!! I would have to do some serious soul searching on parts....

:o) Something fun to do this evening..... :o)

I agree to this to!! I would like to say my opinion about re-casting some parts..

Ranger should be the played by Dwayne Johnson "The Rock"
Lulu should definitely be played by Monique
Grandma definitely should be played by Betty White
Morelli - Im not sure about...

Stephanie Plum.. Sandra Bullock or Marissa Tomei.. I like Katherine but she needs to work on the accent a bit more...

I would remake Morelli and cast Gerard Butler in his place. I mean the chemistry in Ugly Truth between Hiegle and Butler was phenomenal. I would think Ranger would be Channing Tatum or the same guy. I picture Hugo Weaving as Eddie Abruzzi (Agent Smith from Matrix). Keanu Reeves as Dougie the Dealer. DeNiro or Nicholson as Eddie DeCooch. I don't think Joyce would be someone like Messing or Walsh...I feel as though she should be someone kind of slutty...like Pam Anderson, or LeAnne Rhimes(since she likes to sleep with other peoples husbands). Jeanne Ellen Burrows would be Natalie Portman. I see grandma as the woman who played Sophia in The golden girls had she not have passed, god rest her soul, in 08. That's just my thoughts. I hadn't picked up these books until the movie came out, and because of it, I wanted to read it first. I am glad I did. I have read the first 8 books in 8 days. Love them, and they are hilarious!

Tracy wrote: "I agree to this to!! I would like to say my opinion about re-casting some parts..

Ranger should be the played by Dwayne Johnson "The Rock"
Lulu should definitely be played by Monique
Grandma definitely should be played by Betty White
"

Tracy - I have to disagree on Betty White - I'd already cast her as Grandma Bella!

At this moment my Ranger would have to be Duane Johnson.... hands down

Dawn I also read the first 7 books in one week back when they were the only ones out and I was waiting for book number 8. I have since then re-read these first 8 again and then just before the movie re-read for a third time One For the Money.

Fun!!!

the more i read into her books (finished four in less than a month) the more i can see this turning ino a tv sit instead of sequell. i mean there is no way they will make 17 movies but they can get many episodes out of the books and i would tune in every week for that. what do you guys think ?

I agree Amira! I would totally tune into it...Maybe it would be a lifetime or tnt or usa series.

T.V. is totally where this series belongs..... Where you could bring justice to all the characters and bring in all the quirky ones to boot. Car bombings, fires, the bedroom scenes etc. etc.....

FX would be the perfect channel!!!!!

I think a series would be great but the only thing would be the writers would need to be of a high standard as most seasons last 22 plus episodes and you would quickly run out of Janet' s books . If the scripts are good enough then I totally agree .

Justified is based off one short story and 3 titles now..... I think they could pull it off to do more than just what they have. Several of the books could last more than one episode to really expand on the police/detective thing for Joe while Steph herself is catching other non-descript type characters for the bonds in each episode.

Um...why wouldn't each book be its own season? not to mention the in between stories...add those to the season that correlates with the book. Or two books per season. Also it seems the 30 minute shows are really the ones that have 22+ episodes...so if it was an hour long on TNT( like Rizzoli & Isles) they usually do 15ish episodes.

Exactly Dawn!!!!! Rizzoli and Isles really aren't follwing the books except for the crazy killer in the first two.... but they have gone off on their own a bit with the show. I like it!

I agree it should be a TV series instead of a movie. It would make a great series. I love Rizzoli and Isles too. It is a great show!

Ranger character needs to be changed before the next movie!!! I can definitely see The Rock or Channing Tatum. I would love to see Marisa Tormei as Steph-she does such a great accent in "My Cousin Vinnie". I've ALWAYS pictured Grandma Mazur as the grumpy old woman who is on the greeting cards. So much so, that I was shocked when I saw Debbie Reynolds- not sure what we can do about that, but someone less "goody two-shoes" needs to play her. When is the next movie coming out????????

Wait! I am late to the party...there is going to be another movie?! Well...that is exciting!!

Ranger's character needs to be more 3D and not so flat... They missed so much of his dialogue from the book that was fun!

Who knows about the movie... some of us want more and that will have to happen in a t.v. series

I totally agree this series should be a tv series. I know the true blood books usually have one book a season of the show.

That being said I like a lot of the casting from the first movie...especially. Morelia and ranger..but I didn't like grandma..I picture less glamorous looking and more rough..like the reAlly old lady on the golden girls. I also though Neil was no hum. Not as spunky as I would have pictured stephanie.

I wish a premium cable show would pick it up so I could see some naked ranger lol...just kidding...sort of

Not kidding.... I would like more skin tooooooo!!!!!! ;o)

Ranger should be the rock or Vin Diesel and totally see the guy that played Bear in Armageddon as Tank

I am not sure if they will make a second movie, they did a pretty bad job casting the first movie in my opinion. It would probley have been a better tv show.
I like
Sandra Bullock and stephanie
Joe Manganiello and Morelli
Steve Buscemi and Vinny
Ellen Alertini and grandma Mazur
Ranger is a hard one, I do not think I could pick some one...maybe the Rock...it cannot be just anyone

The casting department did not read the books. I dont think the way the casted the movies. I just do not know what they were thinking.

They should have cast Ann Morgan Guilbert as Grandma Mazur.

Yea I agree the casting was pretty bad they can't possibly have read any of the books at all!
Jon heder for nooner is so perfect, Sandra bullock seems a bit old now but def a young Sandra bullock, think Morellis ok he just needs a female lead that he can have great chemistry with but ranger was all wrong he seemed to happy n talkative and what happened to his long hair! Everyone is so right about Debbie Reynolds aswell way to nice for grandma mazur someone like Doris Roberts (everybody loves raymond) is who I picture or maybe a bit rougher

John Abraham for Ranger!

Gail wrote: "I agree it should be a TV series instead of a movie. It would make a great series. I love Rizzoli and Isles too. It is a great show!"

I want Jane's older brother to be Morelli. These books cry out to be a TV series.

Okay. So I agree. Casting was horrible for "One"! Heigl I like her, but she doesn't fit the character! She is too tall, looks a little too old for the Part, her eyes aren't blue... The list goes on. Sandra bullock? Really?! She is too old! Remember Steph is 30! I like the person they picked for ranger, although I pictured someone more native American looking. Morelli character is too old as well and does not look Italian! And he is supposed to have brown eyes... I always picture Someone who looks like Christoffer Meloni (law and order svu)... I know he's too old, but he's got that Italian look. I never thought of making it a sit com! That is brilliant! Who cn we get ahold of?!

I've read most of the series. Whoever the guy is that plays Ranger is all wrong! He's supposed to be this amazing buff, Latina man. I know Channing Tatum is sexy but is no where close to right for the part. Ranger is even supposed to have long hair in the first book. Anyways, I do like kathrine as steph. Grandma is eh, and Morelli could be replaced as well. But I did enjoy the movie and I can't wait for the second one!

I think The Rock is too big to play Ranger. I just don't see him in the part. I actually like the guy who played him in One for the Money.
I think the BEST casting is Sherri Shepherd as Lulu!! She is PERFECT!
My only casting issue is pretty much the same as others, Debbie Reynolds is not a good Grandma Mazur. Need some one who is more crotchety. Estelle Parson would have been great, but I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

I love these books!

Morelli needs to an Italian hunk. In the first movie he was too whimpy and looked more Irish than Italian. I don't like either for Grandma but can't thin who should play her. Ranger? Just don't know either. They are all so vivid in my imagination, I don't if I would like anyone. I did like who played Lula in the movie though.

I imagine someone like Kim Kardashian as Joyce.
I hate both. But they seem like a good fit.
I also agree that none of the cast really works.
Most of all Ranger. When you read about him, he's supposed to make you weak in the knees, and have this sexual energy. I didn't get that vibe when watching the first movie at all.
Also grandma Mazur, bad choice for her.
I feel like the person that did casting for this movie hadn't read a single book from the series.

I also agree about Sherri Shepherd for Lula!

Shastina-sassy wrote: "I imagine someone like Kim Kardashian as Joyce.
I hate both. But they seem like a good fit.
I also agree that none of the cast really works.
Most of all Ranger. When you read about him, he's supp..."

HERE HERE. I don't like the Kardashians at all. It would take away from the main characters.

It would, which sucks.
She's just who I imagine as Joyce. But at the same time, I wouldn't want her being Joyce, because I'd have to watch her! Haha.

Shastina-Sassy wrote: "It would, which sucks.
She's just who I imagine as Joyce. But at the same time, I wouldn't want her being Joyce, because I'd have to watch her! Haha."
And it would only be about her and not the character or other characters. Why feed that ego of hers?

I would like to see Vern Troyer as Randy Briggs (Mini Me on Austin Powers), Scarlett Johanssen as Valerie, Jim Parson (Sheldon on Big Bang Theory) as Albert, would replace Ranger with Jon Huertas from Castle, Morelli replace with Matthew Fox, Dickie Orr would be Mark Paul Gosselaar or James Van Der Beek. Just a few...

Okay, I just re read all 18 books consecutively and I watched the movie before and after. I think the movie was done really well. To expect any movie to be exactly like the book is unreasonable. Stories are often written in a way that makes sense when read but it doesn’t translate well to the movie format. Also, this film was low budget so getting a whole cast of A list actors is also an unreasonable expectation. I think Katherine Hiegle did a great job bringing the doggedly persistent and nervous bravado of Stephanie Plum to the big screen. I would keep the cast the same. I think Daniel Sunjata is the right combination of sexy and mysterious and Jason O’Mara and Katherine Hiegle had excellent chemistry. Jason O'Mara is Irish and I read some critisim that he should be nmore Italian, nothern Italians are blue eyed and blonde so I think that is moot. As far as casting goes the only one that I would recast is Mrs. Morelli because in my mind she is pretty and put together. I agree that Grandma Mazer played by Debbie Reynolds is too pretty for Grandma Mazer but this was the films attempt to bring an A list actor (admittedly former) to the movie, so I say ok. I love the books (with the exception of Fearless Fourteen which starts off good and then goes off in a ridiculous direction) and have read them a few times and will probably read them many more times. I would love to see all of them made into movies with the current cast. I mean studios waste a lot of money making superhero movies and remaking them. I think they could ante up the budget to make Two for the Dough.
I read some comment that someone wrote why didn't they show Grandma Mazers obsession with funerals. That is something that developes over the series and is not in the first book. Also, read a comment that the movie didn't have the attaction between Ranger and Stephanie, well agian that is something that developes over the series and in fact is not stated until book 4.
I say make them all, it's still better than most of the movies they are putting out.

I loved the series and I only disagreed on the casting because I saw Cloris Leachman as Grandma and Queen Latefa(sp) as Lula. I just hope there is a sequel.

Keep in mind that these charaters in the books are 20-32 years of age and most of the actors you all are picking are in their 40s.

I loved the movie. I loved the cast. The idea of there being a Stephanie Plum TV series is brilliant. This girl would be addicted. :)
I think the issue with casting is...each and every reader is going to have a different idea in his or her own head of what each person looks like so that's just one of those things you kind of have to get over or around. Luckily, the characters are so awesome, as long as the script writers stay true to the books, I don't think even the worst actors in the world could ruin it for me. ;)
You know what would be really trippy? If they did some crazy animated version like the Trouble Maker comics. Lol! When I think of Stephanie Plum, I think of her as a super heroine...hahaha As long as we're entertaining ideas, might as well go there. ;)

Are they really going through with a second film? I enjoyed the cast EXCEPT for Morelli. I really think they need an Italian guy to play the Italian Stallion.

Box Office was so lousy for OFTM I doubt they will do another..but as a television series it would be awesome. I liked the movie and love, love, love the books. I liked the entire cast expecially Sherri Shepherd as Lula....in the sequel they need more Lula...

Well, I hate to be the downer, but if you check IMDB, they attempted to make this a TV series. They actually made a TV movie in 2002 (shown on USA), but it failed.

The problem with this series is that its (a) been stuck in development hell so long it's no longer relevant; (b) hard to cast; (c) technologically outdated; and (d) frustrating.

Over the course of 19 (almost 20) books, Stephanie Plum has not gotten any better at the job. She's still plucky and fun, but the series ended for me at Carl the monkey and I completely gave up at the Vordo subplot. What had been fresh and funny has turned into farce.

I love the early books but the series end for me at 13. I doubt they ever make a series out of this. A made for TV movie and a major motion picture and neither got the ratings or money necessary to convince the powers that be that turning this into a series would be a good idea. Which is a shame; we're the real losers here.

BTW, I thought Ranger was well cast and I think people are getting his later characterizations and descriptions mixed up with the first book. He's a little more talkative in the first book and he's definitely described as dark. I'm always irritated when no one wants to respect that. There's NOTHING wrong with casting a darker individual in this role. AND, as someone who's met quite a few special forces soldiers in my life, I'll go on record as stating that Dwayne Johnson is absolutely the WRONG person for the role. Too big. Spec Forces guys are, by and large, lean and muscular, not bulky.

I agree about Daniel Sunjata, the more movies/tv shows I see him in the more I think he makes a good Ranger. He has something that works, Dwayne Johnson would be a total bummer as Ranger, the wrong personality type, but he'll always be The Rock to me.

I'd like them to give it another go tv show wise, idk about movie wise, they had the wrong casting... with the exception of Lula, Vinnie, Ranger, and Connie, though if they would make a movie, Ranger might just have to be recast since Sunjata has a new tv series out.

I have trouble casting Stephanie and Morelli, no one feels right

Amelia wrote: "Are they really going through with a second film? I enjoyed the cast EXCEPT for Morelli. I really think they need an Italian guy to play the Italian Stallion."
I very much agree. That was a big disappointment from how I envisioned Morelli

I think it they think sitcom television series they will get this right. It is so much comedy that that mentality has to be used. I love every book in the series and think that the show could be based on smaller, individual plots instead of trying to duplicate the books. It is a wonderful opportunity since comedies sell as television series.

Victoria wrote: "Well, I hate to be the downer..."

I kept getting confused about just exactly what Ranger would really look like in real life. The fella in the film was slimmer, but the books often describe him as muscular, etc. I was in the Army, and stationed in San Antone, Tx for some years, where I personally met many, many Special Forces guys who were doing their Medical Training at Ft. Sam Houston. ALL of them, and I mean, ALL, were tall, wide, and thick. They were all quite big men!! Not a single one of them was small, thin, or lean. They could perhaps be considered bulky, but since they were all huge sized, bulky wasn't really a good description -- they were all just overly large men. Think about it, to be SF, you have to be able to live in almost any region, including mountainous, where you would be "humping" heavy packs and loads of supplies up and down, and up and down. And so on....

I would personally like to see a 2nd feature film, but with some different people. K. Heigel doesn't fit as Stephanie's physical description, though she is quite comical and would play the role well, otherwise. As to the other characters, Vinnie and Connie's actors were perfect. Lula's -- not really sure. Joe's character wasn't too bad, but needs to be perfected a little more. Grandma M. maybe wasn't acceptable. Ranger just didn't fit the physical description either. Oh well, those are just my thots......

Antonio banderas is MY Ranger of choice. Alex OLoughlin would be great as morelli. I know they are both older than 30, but i can overlook! Grandma could be done justice by Betty White cuz she's such a good actor, but I think grandma needs to be scrawnier and not quite so sweet.