For over 20 years, Hollywood has struggled to adapt Jonathan Franzen's highly praised novel The Corrections. A sprawling, complex tale about a Midwestern family and their struggles, it's long been considered a tough nut to crack for filmmakers.
Several directors have tried to take it on. Robert Zemeckis, known for Forrest Gump, and Stephen Daldry of The Hours fame were both attached at different points. But perhaps the most famous attempt came in 2012, when Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) shot a pilot for HBO. That version had a stellar cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Chris Cooper. And yet, despite all the talent involved, the show never saw the light of day. HBO pulled the plug before it ever aired.
But now, there's renewed excitement around The Corrections. According to Puck's Matthew Belloni, Meryl Streep is set to star in a new adaptation of Franzen's novel. Details are still emerging, but the project is being pitched as “big, expensive, and prestigious.” No director has been announced yet, but with Streep attached, it's bound to attract serious attention from streaming platforms eager to secure high-profile content.
Franzen's novel, published in 2001, follows the lives of the Lambert family, exploring issues like aging, mental health, and the changing dynamics of the American Dream. These deep themes and the novel's non-linear structure seem tailor-made for a limited series, which would allow time to explore the story's rich layers.
With Meryl Streep at the helm and streaming services hungry for prestige dramas, this could be the long-awaited breakthrough. If there was ever a time for The Corrections to shine, it's now.
