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Who Would You Cast In This Cozy Mystery Movie?

We’ve gotten a few comments recently that got me to thinking, Who would I cast?

KG:

… I think Lucy Stone Mysteries would be a great movie series on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. I wonder who could be cast as Lucy?

Esmeralda:

Maybe just me, but doesn’t Gladdy look/remind anyone of Beatrice Arthur ?

Lucky for me I wrote both of these comments down! Now I’d like to know if any of you have someone in mind who could play the following parts:

Beth Kennedy from Laura Alden‘s (aka Laurie Cass) PTA Mystery Series
Kellie Martin

Meg Langslow from Donna Andrews‘ Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Melissa McCarthy

Mrs. Jeffries from Emily Brightwell‘s Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Kathy Bates
Roma Downey
Cheryl Ladd
Angela Lansbury
Susan Sarandon
Emma Thompson

Theodosia Browning from Laura Childs‘ Tea Shop Mystery Series
Andi MacDowell
Lea Thompson

Desiree Shapiro from Selma Eichler’s Desiree Shapiro Mystery Series
Melissa McCarthy

Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich‘s Stephanie Plum Mystery Series
Martha Plimpton

Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton‘s Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series
Sandra Bullock
Jennifer Garner
Anne Hathaway
Martha Plimpton

Gladdy Gold from Rita Lakin‘s Gladdy Gold Mystery Series
Bea Arthur

Lucy Stone from Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Lacy Chabert
Patricia Heaton
Kellie Martin
Martha Plimpton
Lea Thompson

Sharon McCone from Marcia Muller‘s Sharon McCone Mystery Series
Martha Plimpton

Faith Fairchild from Katherine Hall Page‘s Faith Fairchild Mystery Series
Jennifer Aniston
Alyson Hannigan

Remember that actresses wear wigs all of the time, although in the case of a new mystery movie series, the blonde actress isn’t wearing a curly, red wig which so many of us had expected her to wear. One actress that always comes to my mind when I read a mystery book with a strong sleuth is Martha Plimpton. Ever since I saw her in a movie way back in 1994, I’ve thought of her as the perfect Kinsey Millhone, Joanna Brady, or Stephanie Plum. As for Gladdy Gold, I totally agree with Esmerlada. I think Bea Arthur would have made a delightful and strong Gladdy Gold.

How about you? Can you imagine who you would cast as these sleuths? If you have any ideas, please post a comment. Thank you!

Comments

  3. Is the “new mystery series” you mentioned about Hannah Swenson? She’s who I think of with curly red hair. When I’ve read the Lucy Stone books I picture her with blond hair, but she’s described with short black hair. I’m not up on current actors/actresses since I don’t watch a lot of TV or movies, but I can see Plimpton as Stephanie Plum also.

    Reply

    • Laura, yes, I was thinking specifically of the Hannah Swensen mystery movies. I enjoy the movies, but when I watch them I don’t think of them as Hannah Swensen movies. (I hope that makes sense!) One of the things about the “real Hannah” is her “normal woman” looks, which clearly they weren’t going for when they cast this series. In the first movie, when Hannah got her hair all fixed up at her mother’s insistence, I thought they should have left that whole scene out. The actress had her hair looking beautiful before that scene, as well as after, so that scene seemed totally ridiculous to me.)

      Reply

    • Denise-Andy McDowell is a good choice for Theo Browning.

      When I read a book I usually get a picture in my mind of what the character looks like. I suppose we all do. I know when I read the first books of the Tea Shop Mystery series, I saw Dixie Carter as the character. That would not be possible now as she passed away in 2010.

      Just as a side note, the person they chose to play Agatha Raisin blew my mind. We all know what Aggie should look like and they chose a person who looks like Priscilla in the Hamish books. She probably is a very fine actress but fans who follow a series would like the character to somewhat resemble the character esp Agatha who has a very strong personality and look. I guess one would have to watch and separate it from the books and look at it as just a mystery tv show. It’s funny but as a reader on the series, it was almost insulting to me as a reader on how far they strayed from the look of the character. I always liked the character of Agatha. It has been several years and I am getting somewhat riled up just thinking about it again. I know it is just fiction and not to take seriously. Since it was shown in England, I did not see the Quiche of Death show so I don’t know how true it was to the book and personality of Agatha.

      Reply

      • i know what u mean, the pictures we have in our mind of our favorite characters don’t always match what was chosen on t.v. i agree about agatha raisin, i don’t watch outlander because they do not resemble one bit the pictures of them i have in my mind.

        Reply

      • Lynn T, what a picture! Dixie Carter as Theo!

        I totally agree with you about Agatha Raisin’s actress, and I told my husband the very same thing when I saw the producers’ pick: She’d be perfect as Priscilla! It’s obvious when producers get together with their casting people >>> if they haven’t read the books they’re going to put on screen. The British used to be so good at keeping true to the characters, and not casting “beautiful people” over what the authors intended their characters to be. (Not so with Agatha’s choice.)

        I do exactly what your (“I guess one would have to watch and separate it from the books and look at it as just a mystery TV show.”) sentence says. That’s how I watch(ed) the Inspector Lynley, Hamish Macbeth, Hannah Swensen, (etc.) shows.

        Reply

  5. One series I don’t remember seeing mentioned here is Selma Eichler’s Desiree Shapiro series, and I think Melissa McCarthy would be wonderful as Desiree. Martha Plimpton would be good as Lucy Stone. I also think she’d make a great Sharon McCone, with a black wig. Jennifer Aniston as Faith Fairchild, maybe. Or Alyson Hannigan.

    Reply

  7. Danna, perfect timing! On Monday, I’ll be sharing a post about who the 2016 Agatha Best First Novel nominees would cast in their books. It’s going to be at chicksonthecase.com, and I’ll try to send you the link.

    Reply

  11. I see Patricia Heaton as Lucy Stone (maybe that’s because I’m watching The Middle right now!)

    Another series I liked was written by Laura Alden about PTA mysteries. I always pictured Kellie Martin when I read those.

    Reply

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