Scarlett Johansson has been quiet for months. She did a bare-bones publicity tour for Lucy (did Lucy even have a real premiere?!) and then she just relaxed in the last four or five months of her pregnancy. The last time we wrote about ScarJo was the birth announcement – she welcomed baby girl Rose Dorothy back in early September (Virgo baby). I’m still not entirely sure where she is. I think she’s probably in Manhattan or the Hamptons (or moving between the two). Anyway, Scarlett is already thinking about her next career move. And for one of the few big-time movie actresses, you’d think that Scarlett would be lining up endless film projects. Nope! Her next project is going to be a TV miniseries!
Sony Pictures TV is bringing together one of the biggest movie stars, Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers, Lucy, Her), and the work of one of the most celebrated American novelists, the Pulitzer Prize winner Edith Wharton (The Age Of Innocence) for a limited series project that is about to hit the marketplace. Johansson is set to star in and executive produce the eight-episode period series, from Charles Finch’s Pink Sands, which is based on Wharton’s 1913 novel The Custom Of The Country.
Eyed for a cable run, possibly on premium cable, it will be written by British playwright-screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement) from his original screenplay. Hampton originally wrote a feature script adaptation of Custom Of The Country almost two decades ago, reportedly for Michelle Pfeiffer who had starred in the 1993 feature Age Of Innocence, based on Wharton’s book. It was published in 2002 as part of a collection of Hampton screenplays.
Custom Of The Country is described as a scathing story of ambition featuring one of the most ruthless heroines in literature, Undine Spragg, who will be played by Johansson in her first major TV role. Undine is as unscrupulous as she is magnetically beautiful. Her rise to the top of New York’s high society from her nouveau riche roots provides a provocative and thoroughly modern commentary on the upwardly mobile and the aspirations that eventually cause their ruin.
Don’t yell at me, but I’ve never even heard of this book. It sounds very much like an American take on Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, with Undine Spragg as the American version of Becky Sharp. As for the idea of ScarJo doing A) a period drama and B) a TV miniseries… eh, I don’t hate it. So many great actors are doing TV projects these days, especially when it’s premium cable. Working for HBO is often more prestigious than working on some studio movie. Plus, I don’t really hate it when Scarlett does period drama. And you know this series will be full-on costume p0rn.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oh, the Undine character goes off to France and has to cope with the class attitudes there. No wonder ScarJo wanted to do it! I hate this book but it might make a good mini-series.
cue lots of dopey-eyed, puffy lipped close ups and mediocre acting.
Pfft, I have to admit, I thought the same thing. The character is propelled through the scenes, by her smoldering sensuality, under the surface.
my husband will love it.
That goes without saying, same as the role.
Can’t beleive you left out “boob shots”. She is nothing w/out Woody Allen and her fake tata’s. Sad, that I read the Nikki Minage article rigth before this and actually have more respect for Nikki Minage and like her better than ScarJo and I know Minage is a pain the putt. At least she’s honest, super hard-working, and she’s a fighter. I like that alot more than the pouty, spoiled, narcissists in Hollywood like JoHanson (sp?). Can’t stand her. She’s a terrible actress – basically plays herself in every single role she’s had. The only difference seems to be 5-10 lb fluctuations and hair dye.
First thought. Shes going to be wearing something tight, bring on the pencil skirts…. I may watch hahaha
I’ll watch because I love costume dramas and wish that more American period pieces would be created for TV the way the British always have a couple of shows set in bygone eras. Sometimes I wonder if the long racist history of our country is the reason why more shows set in historical America aren’t produced.
I adore Edith Wharton. Love this book. Love, love Christopher Hampton so basically, i’m sold.
Most adaptations of Edith Wharton books have been fabulous so i’m going to approach this adaptation with optimism.
Ps: Edith Wharton books are scathing indictment of society and how to/perils of climbing whatever rung you start and usually with female protagonists so in that sense all her books are sort of american versions of Vanity Fair.
Was just to ask whether it’s worth reading (I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not up to speed on the American Classic authors).
Thank you , you have said it all for me.
One of my favorite books. Can’t wait! I’m scared they will screw it up, though.
Edith Wharton is my favourite author! Glad someone else knows who she is!
Custom of the Country is one of my favorites too and it is one of the few Wharton classics that have not made it to tv or film because the protagonist Undine is such a thoroughly grasping, selfish, horrible, shallow vain woman with absolutely no redeeming qualities. She is a tough sell, but it was a gutsy character choice and I’ll be interested to see if she is softened up or made more like able in this tv version. Typically even a tough minded heroine like Scarlett OHara has a softer side, or does the right thing for others despite herself, or otherwise rises to the occasion, but Undine never comes close. You feel terribly sorry for the men who fall into her web. Scarjo haters will probably think she is perfect casting.
Never understand why ScarJo is a “star”………….Average looking, medium talent at best. Perhaps belongs on television in the first place.
She became one of Woody Allen’s muses and the go to ingenue actress to pair up with older actors in movies. Also, boobs.
I think Scarlet is one of those actresses who men love, while women are slightly baffled at her appeal. I agree that she’s a mediocre actress and no great beauty. Her much hyped body also seems fairly average for a woman her age. But what she does have is that doe-eyed, open-mouthed sex appeal that some – not all – men love. She is the very definition of ‘non threatening’.
I think she’s gorgeous and a good actress as well. Don’t get the anti scar jo feelings.
“Average looking, medium talent…”. A lot of Hollywood stars are like that. At least, Scarjo has a nice bod.
She’s sexy. You don’t have to be beautiful or perfect to be sexy and she alludes sex.
I have a friend the same way — she is not beautiful, really average body but there is something about her that is sexy. She has it without trying. Guys flock to her. She mesmerizes men.
I enjoyed Custom of the Country when I read it in high school. I must be mixing it up with another Wharton book, though, because I thought Undine wound up dying in poverty. But now that I’m thinking about it, I believe Undine marries an impoverished English nobleman. I guess I should dust off a copy and re-read it.
That was The House of Mirth. So depressing.
Custom of the Country is my favorite Edith Wharton novel, and the only one I consider to be funny. It has the usual Edith Wharton theme of women trying to make it in society when their only real option is marriage, but the tone is much lighter than her other novels, and Undine is kind of a characiture of a social climber. I don’t like ScarJo much, but she’s perfect for Undine, who is so hungry to fill herself up with something to make her feel complete and legitimate. But every time she gets what she wants, the sand shifts beneath her and she’s not quite happy and complete, because she sees something else that she thinks will do it.
This is not really a SPOILER, but one of favorite lines in the book is something like this – though he gave her everything she always wanted, she was not quite happy, because she believed in her heart that there may be something better to want.
Can’t wait for it.
A lot of movie stars are moving to TV, if thats where the better work is than go for it right? Plus, maybe doing a miniseries works better in her schedule. Since shes a mom now, she might not want to jump right back into film. Or maybe she’s hoping to get an Emmy…..*shrugs*.
The TV roles for women have been stronger, but oddly I think Hollywood’s obsession with British actors also helps. Over there you do film, TV, theatre, even radio (!) without blinking. It doesn’t matter how big you get. I think American actors have noticed.
I’m not her biggest fan but this could be VERY fun. There are good people on the project, and SJ is at the very least always so pleasant to look at (so very pretty IMO). Plus, she seems perfectly cast. And we need more characters called “Undine.”
So glad she’ll be on TV. A lot of actors should go on temporary strike from movie studios and go to TV. I have a lot of favorite TV shows but I can’t remember the last movie that I really, really loved.
Why not? She’s been there twice. As long as it’s not a British period series coz her accent in Boleyn Girl was inconsistent.
So happy! I love her and miss her! She is a great actress and beautiful and multi talented. Can’t wait to see her in this.
Psyched. It is such a dark, scathing, intelligent, courageous book for Edith Wharton to have written… There is no morality-motivated happily ever after ending or a punishment for the greedy. Very true to life for that and rare in film, TV, literature to portray.
I hope the filming is true to the book and yes, very, very excited to see the period costumes, jewelry and Ms. Johanssen in the part of Undine.
I have read this book twice and love it. It is truly a dishy pleasure: well-written “dirt.” It’s interesting how more and more television is taking on projects that might have been overlooked by mainstream cinema.
Wow, what amts to an Edith Wharton post-count me impressed! Seriously. I have seen many adaptations of Wharton, so will check this out.
Yes, it’s a worthy read. I am reading it now as a free iBook.
Ummmm people saying she’s average looking…really? She’s beautiful
Different strokes for different folks. I find her very average looking and apart from big boobs, I think her body is very average too.
While ScarJo has been in some great movies, most of these movies were carried by other, better, actors. Homegirl can’t act. It’s even worse when she does period pieces. I loved Girl with the Pearl Earring but it had nothing to do with one note Scarlett.