I’ve been reading the most fantastic series of books lately, and I’ve pretty much forced all my close friends and family to start reading them as well. It’s the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich. They are about a girl who loses her job as a lingerie buyer and ends up blackmailing her sleezeball cousin into giving her a job as a bounty hunter. There are so many funny bits that make these books as great as they are, so many characters that add their own interesting bits to the story. When I’m reading I always try to figure out who I imagine the characters as, or who I imagine would play them if there was to be a movie.
I’m sure there WILL be a movie someday, books this popular don’t go without becoming a movie at some point.
Here’s what I was thinking.
Sandra Bullock as Stephanie Plum.
I think it’s her role in the Miss Congeniality movies that make me see her in this role too. I CAN imagine her dodging dinner with her parents, keeping her gun in her cookie jar and having a hamster as a best friend. Can’t you?
She’s just hot enough, but also just clumsy and endearing enough to bring Stephanie to life.
Queen Latifah as Lula.
When I think of a ‘big boned’ black woman with major attitude, who can kick some major ass, there is only one woman who comes to mind.
QUEEN LATIFAH!
I can see her breaking down doors and threatening to shoot people.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Joe Morelli.
Yummmmm. If I have to imagine a rough around the edges, steal your virginity as a teenager kind of guy, it’s this one. I can’t think of anyone more perfect for the role of Joe than “Denny”. He can be hot when he needs to be hot, but he can be sweet and even a bit adorable at times.
Plus, can’t you see him and Sandra Bullock together as a movie item?
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Ranger
Ranger… ooooooh Ranger. Could there possibly be a sexier fictional character than Ranger??
It’s hard to cast this character because he has to be big, lean, sexy, caring but scary and mean a the same time. Having seen The Rock playing a gay guy in a previous movie I wavered on this one… but in the end, I think he’s our guy. Yum.
Ellen Albertini Dow as Grandma Mazur
Grandma Mazur is one of those old ladies who just doesn’t grow old. She may spend all her spare time at viewings (wakes) but in her mind she’s still 19 years old and on the go!
I have never thought of Grandma Mazur without seeing the Rapping Granny from the Wedding Singer in my head. She also played that drug toting old lady on Studio 64. Perfect!
Jason Mewes as Mooner
Sort of like with Ellen Albertini Dow automatically making me think of the crazy Grandma Mazur, Jason Mewes (or Jay from the Jay and Silent Bob movies) has always been in my mind when Mooner was in the story.
Stoner = Jason Mewes = Mooner. It’s just the way it is!
There are a lot of supporting characters as well, like Stephanie’s parents and sister, her cousin Vinnie and a wide range of cops, but the above characters are the ones I hold most dear and make true mental images of in my mind.
Now, here’s hoping they actually make a movie of it someday. I’d be curious to see if any of my picks make it in!
If you haven’t read this series yet, I seriously suggest you do. I am on the 9th book now and they just keep getting better and better!
A warning though, make sure you get two because I guarantee when you finish the first one you’ll be dying to start the second!
This sounds like an interesting series and something I could get into. Now to get my library card – I’ve lived in this county 6 years and still haven’t bothered.
And I loved the “big-boned black woman who can kick some ass” comment!
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I think Mo’Nique would be better to play Lula…Queen Latifah doesn’t seem like the ex HO type
Oooh I want to read those!! Did you order it off of Amazon or get it somewhere here?? I already love the line up you have to play the parts!!
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Good job. I’ve read all the way up to at least 13 in the series and I can see all these people in it. The only difference is I was thinking of RuPaul as Lula.
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I might have to check these books out. Just reading about the characters cracked me up.
I still need to get those books! I have two more to finish before I’m allowed to buy more :P
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i think you nailed it on the head! i can’t think of who else could fill those rolls better! i am on #11 and will have those faces in mind now-perfect! so funny…
I love this series and have read all the books out so far, I’m waiting for the 15th book to come out in June. I really think this should be a tv series and a movie, but i love your selection of characters! I always wondered who could play Ranger and The ROCK seems perfect. I’ve seen some websites with Antonio banderas as Ranger and he just seems so wrong.
OMG! I can’t believe so many of you have not read these books. I have been reading them for years and I am dying waiting for a movie to be made. You all will LOOOOOOOOVE these books as well as others by Evanovich!
I think that everyone you said would be perfect if the characters in the book were 15 years OLDER. I am loving Janet Evanovich and she’s re-established my dream of “I can be anything I want to be”. The Plum Series is hilarious and I’m in love with all the characters (especially Morelli & Ranger, mmm). I’m going with a younger 28-35 year old LOOKING cast. I really wish they’d do a mini-series based on these books!
Morelli- David Boreanaz
Morelli (2nd pick)- Antonio Sabato Jr.
Morelli (3rdpick)- Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Stephanie- Tiffani Amber Thiessen or Ali Larter
LuLu- Mo’nique or Niecy Nash (comedy factor)
Connie- Debie Mazar or Leah Remini
Joyce- Drea de Matteo
Tank- (non discriptive in actual looks and ethnicity) Michael Clark Duncan or Ving Rhames or Dalip Singh
Grandma Mazur- Cloris Leachman
Kloughn- Larry Joe Campbell
Valerie- Melanie Lynskey
Momma Plum- Debra Jo Rupp
Ranger- Adam Rodriguez or maybe Mario Lopez
Grandma Bella- Doris Roberts
Sally Sweet- Alexis Arquette
Diesel- Dane Cook (its the hair,plus he’s cute and funny in a smart ellic way)or Paul Walker maybe Jensen Ackles
These things are hard. You want to go with big name stars but you have to remember that the BIG name stars want BIG money and you know if they do a movie or mini-series it wouldn’t be BIG money. Then again, you have to have some good names in it so people will watch it! You have to keep within an age range or at least people that could pull off the age range. And the boys have to have hair or I’d pick Vin Diesel all the way baby, haha… * this is so fun* :)
Sandra’s a good choice for Steph but, I dunno, I kinda always saw Liv Tyler as playing her character. As for Lula, i was thinking more along the lines of Mo’Nique and maybe Michael Clark Duncan as Tank.
I agree that the age group is all wrong. Has anyone ever given Maggie Gillenhall(sp) a thought for Stephanie? She is the exact description (okay, maybe a little skinny). She is self-described as not too striking but pretty, blue eyes, kinda Jersey girl-next-door. Just a thought.
P.S. Ranger is not BIG, just built. And he’s Cuban.
the cast that DXEGRL_KC came up with is perfect! although i could never see mario lopez as ranger…the dimples automatically eliminate him for me.
i really hope someone makes a movie…soon!
Stephanie Plum can be played by no one but Sandra Bullock – she is the only one to fit the role.
Betty White as Gramdma – NO WAY she’s too nice and Cloris Leachman is too tall for Grandma….someone with the stature of Estelle Getty would be perfect as well as the personality she protrayed on Golden Girls.
I vote for “The Rock” as Ranger..I always picture him when reading the books!
I have read every Plum book many times and I couldn’t agree more with your picks. Especially Ranger.
I like your picks, but I see Benjamin Bratt as Morelli. Tall, dark, handsome . . . and can very easily pass as Italian.
I see a lot of people putting the rock down for ranger…i dont see him playing him. Sandra Bullock would be a good stephanie plum, never thought of her but as for Morelli, I think Bradley Cooper would be perfect…he is sexy and kind of a bad boy
I am reading these books now and I am so obsessed. I was trying to cast the movie in my head and I think Sandra is PERFECT. What about Javier Bardem or Benjamin Bratt for Ranger? Mo’Nique is a great choice for Lula. And Ellen Dow is pure genius for Grandma Mazur. The movie was optioned out over ten years ago. Where or where is it?
oh my god! im so confused as to why everyone is saying sandra bullocks as stephanie! that would be so incredibly horrible! sandra bullocks is way too large to fit the roll. looking at photos of her i dont see stephanie characteristics whatsoever. im not trying to sound mean or anything, but i generally think that sandra bullock is too manish to pull off steph! they need to cast someone who is unknown, and not too be too critical, but matches her character description pretty much perfectly. cause shes the damn main character!!
and the rock as ranger? what?! i mean, come on! ranger is cuban! cuban for christs sake, and the rock is way too huge to play what i percieve as ranger, sure, janets described him as built, but hes not that built!
the rock is some giant wrestler dude who sticks out like a thumbtack in a pile of needles. ranger is some sexy slick guy who moulds into his surroundings and is all mysterious and shit. antonio banderas or however the jive you spell it would be so much better than the rock to play ranger. not the absolute ideal person, but so much better. imagine him with his black hair pulled back into a ponytail and a little gold shinny earring in one of his ears, dressed all slick like in head to toe black? also, the rock doesn’t have hair, and would also not suit rangers hair. the rock would look more like tank than ranger.
im really hoping whoever makes this movie will make it soon, and put a buttload of effort into perfecting casting because these books are just too perfect to be messed with! movies are always a let down anyway after reading the books anyway.
Look on JE’s web site. She’s the one who said she saw Sandra Bullock playing Stephanie. I’m sorry, but I’m one that see’s The Rock everytime Ranger’s name comes up. Hair can grow!
yes, finally someone has stood up and said it! no to sandra bullocks and reese witherspoon being cast as stephanie! thats the absolute worst idea ive heard this year! reese witherspoon is too whinny and short to play stephanie and sandra bullock is indeed a tad manish sorry to sb fans. rock = no as ranger.
put someone whose not that recognized or whatever antonio banderas would be ok but its so hard to see a character truly when their actor is so well known for other roles. its an absolute major! major!! major!!! turnoff and the movies’ characters just end up looking shitty and not properly formed/portrayed.
holy cow exactly! reese witherspoon/sandra bullocks would be SO detrimental to the movie! so would the rock. ugh. horrible thought even suggesting it. sorry, but it really does make me want to ralph right here on my keyboard. the novels are just too precious to have misfit actors shoved into the so loved main parts. seriously. if twilight and harry potter and all those other globally beloved movies can have people found that match the characters perfectly, why cant steph plum novels have it too? cause these novels crap dirty backdoor liquids all over twilight and harry potter. i dont understand why there aren’t hordes of people clambering over the books like other books have? stephanie plum novels are so incredibly good it pains me to think of how many years i may have to wait till the movie comes out. what are you doing hollywood? what are you waiting for? come on janet, get your luscious tombs of humorous gold out there into every room in every house in every country!!
You two are cracking me up :) I feel like I’ve been invaded suddenly with you both coming at the same time :P
I can SORT OF see what you are saying about Sandra Bullock, she can be not so girly at times but when she does need to be sort of feminine she can be too. Stephanie isn’t totally girly either. She’s pretty tall and tomboyish, so it makes sense to me. I cannot see Reece Witherspoon AT ALL though, I agree.
I still stand firm with the rock. I get the same ralph reaction when I think of Antonia Banderas in the role. No way!
I’m curious to hear who you guys WOULD choose for the different roles though! :) What about Zooey Deschanel as Stephanie? She’s cute, feminine, quirky…
NO NO NO!!! Sandra Bullock would screw up the whole movie! She’s too midwestern! And Reese Whitherspoon?! You’ve gotta be kidding me. I’d only be happy if Stephanie was played by Debra Messing, Nia Vardolas [sp?], or Leah Remini. I do agree that Dane Cook should play Deisel.
As for the rest-
Morelli- Dermot Mulroney (sp?)
Ranger- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Lula- Mo’nique or Queen Latifah
Grandma Mazur- Estelle Getty was my first pick, but she died. Cloris Leachman has my vote.
Sally- ??? Help!
Mooner- John Roecker [indie film maker. Look for him on Google Images.]
Naw I don’t see Dermot as Morelli. He’s not macho enough. No WAY I’d see Deb. Messing as Stephanie. OH god, she’d be way worse than Sandra Bullock IMO.
Well, Deb’s got the hair, the build, and the accent. Well, she’s from Pawtucket, RI, which has a mix of Boston/NJ accent in it. There’s interviews with her that only me and my New England family can understand.
I can see what you’re saying about Dermot now(:
Another idea for Mooner – Daniel Tosh?
Here’s my choices: Steph has to be Sandra Bullock (even JE thinks so) Antonio Saboto Jr. as Morelli. Marco Sanchez or Adam Rodriguez as Ranger (but I see Dwayne Johnson when I think of him) Lula has to be Mo’Nique. Tank is a no-brainer it has to be Michael Clark Duncan. Ellen Albertini Dow is totally Grandma Mazur. I think Jerry Orbach would be good for Steph’s dad, havn’t got a take on mom yet. An Italian actress named Ilaria Giorgino looks the part of Connie, but I’ve never seen her in anything, maybe Morisa Tormei? Steve Buscemi is sooo Vinnie! Morisa Sally Sweet is supposed to look like Howard Stern so…hmm. That’s my list so far.
*I mean Diesel, not mooner. Sorry, I just woke up.
I have always pictured Sandra Bullock for Stphanie but she is getting up there. What about Nia Vardelos as Stephanie? (Don’t know how to spell her name) She has lost a ton of weight and is pretty but not too pretty or way too skinny. I can see her having a bad hair day. Ranger could be played by the Rock as long as he can pull off a ponytail. Definitely not Antonio Banderas…he should be in the geriatric ward. Morelli should be Antonio Sabato Jr…yum and he looks Italian. I love Cloris Leachman for Grandma! The dad needs to be Red from that 70s show. Lula has GOT to be Mo’Nique. Queen Latifah is too small. Sorry…she has got to BUST outta her spandex. I like Debbie Mazur for Connie and maybe Ray Liotta for Vinnie. Stephanie’s mom is hard for me…I have no clue on that one. And I think Nicolette Sheridan (with brown hair) would be perfect for Joyce! You can’t help but hate that skank!
That is SO hilarious! I’ve been discussing this same thing with my girlfriends and we came up all of the same characters except for Morelli. Although Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be good. We had Morelli played by Carlos Bernard. (Tony from ‘24′) Everyone else is the exact same though! Great job!
Stephanie plum should be Jennifer Aniston with a perm on speed
sandra bullock is to docile and characterless
Benjamin Bratt would be a great Morelli. Bullock and him have great screen chemistry. I can’t picture anyone but Dwayne Johnson playing Ranger. I think Tank needs to be someone a bit younger than Michael Clark Duncan. Betty White would be a perfect Grandma because she loves to shock us with hear ability to rip out the cursing. Can’t help but laugh at her.
I’m a new fan and just completed 16 Plum books. I’m hooked. How much fun to discover these characters. For two weeks I had the best entertainment! What do I do with myself now until #16 is available?
Just watched Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality 2 this morning and had visions of her as Stephanie. It was a riot. No one else could be her. But if they wait to much longer she’ll be too old. She still looks hot and she must be 40 now.
I say NO on the Rock, but Hubba Hubba for Antonio Banderas as Ranger! And he’s up in age too! Has anyone had a vision of Danny Divito as Vinnie? It cracks me up when I think of it. :)
adam rodrigues as ranger, david borenaz as morelli and melissa joan hart as stephanie. i dont know her name but she is in glee the singer as lulu. lets give some unknowns a chance to make it big . not that they are not good already but they are on tv. they are good at what they do on tv.
Book 15
Fun read as usual, but it gets a bit boring with too much of the same thing.
I coulnd’t stop laughing over the stapler issue. It was just too funny to me. I have not heard anyone else mention that scene. I nearly peed my pants and had tears in my eyes!!!
I hope Janet will heat it up a bit between Stephanie and Ranger in 16. She’s kept
sandra bullock seems too ancient to play this part. someone like susanna hoffs when she was younger. too bad betty white is so ancient also. she would be a gret grandma. the rock is too big to be ranger. i have seen a character actor who is about 5′ft 10 to 6′. longer, really shiny black hair in a pony tail and muscular build. cannot think of his name. red from 70’s show is too vocal. father is quiet. debbie mazur would be good for connie and i agree with moni’que. she would be a laugh
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I love all of these books. I have read them all in a month and a half and I am having withdrawls waiting on book 16 to come out!! If you are looking for a good laught these are right for you… I think all the actors you have picked out up top would be PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!
My friend and I think Sherri Shepherd, the comedian (also on The View) would be a great Lula! No to Antonio Banderas. These are characters in their early thirties, not approaching 50. Ellen Dow is perfect for Gramma.
i agree on all except for morelli. possibly a cross of David Borenanaz (he looks way too tough, but he is the steal your virginity as a teenager type of looking guy) and Eric bana (he’s …. soft by himself). Now, where to find this cross of two?
oh and Ranger, Stephanie, Lula and Granny ARE PERFECT! Granny is my favorite character (lol cos she still thinks she’s able to do anything that Stephanie can. And what she thinks of Stephanie’s job from what she watches on crime shows XD)
Sandra Bollock is too old now, sorry. Anne Hathaway is Stephanie. Dewayne Johnson is Ranger, no other choice there. There are several guys who could play Morelli – I love Antonio Sabato!!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series! I’m about to start book 12, can’t wait!!! I love your casting! I think it’s PERFECT. I totally see Queen L and Ellen! LOL! And The ROCK! OMG – Hello! I so wish ‘they’ would make this a series or movie….the books just go too fast!
I agree with almost everything everyone is saying, but I think the Rock would be a great Morelli and Johnny Depp would be a perfect Ranger!!
Nancy…what makes you say Johnny Depp would be a good Ranger? Are you nuts? LOL Ranger is Cuban-American, buff, hot, and dangerously sexy. I’m sorry, but Johnny is only ONE of those things…hot. David Bautista….now THAT’S Ranger. Yum!
I don’t see Johnny Depp as Ranger either, he’s hot as helllllll but he’s not what Ranger is meant to be. I also don’t think David Bautista is a good fit either. He’s TOO big, it’s almost the opposite problem of Johnny Depp where he is too small, this guy is too big and brutish.
I love this series!! I think the characters you have in mind to play Stephanie, ranger…ect…are right on!! I hope they come out with a movie as well!
[...] this time last year I did a post about what my choices would be for Stephanie Plum Movie Castings, if she were ever to come to the big screen. There has been a lot of debate about it, but I [...]
I like all the characters, only Joe Morelli seems a bit too old i think! :D
Marissa Tomaie has got to be Stephanie. I picked the same for Ranger and Lula. Love your picks for Grandma Mazur , Mooner and Morelli. When, oh when, will they make a movie or TV series.
[...] may remember me sharing my Stephanie Plum Movie Castings around this time last year. My first choice was Sandra Bullock, but apparently it’s not meant [...]
Great choices, I worry that Sandra is too old tho… I always wanted Britney Murphy as Stephanie.
:(