‘The Prom’: Meryl Streep Joins Cast, Ariana Grande Drops Out Of The Musical

Ryan Murphy has been tapped to direct the film adaptation of the queer-themed Tony-nominated stage musical “The Prom.” The official cast for the movie has also been announced.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, James Corden and Andrew Rannells will be part of the feature film adaptation, which will be released next year. Production for “The Prom” will commence sometime in December. Murphy will produce “The Prom” with Alexis Woodall, Bill Damaschke and Dori Berinstein.

Streep will play the role of Dee Dee Allen, a two-time Tony-winning stage actress who partners with Barry Glickman (Corden) for a flop musical about the life of the late Eleanor Roosevelt. Even though the reviews for their musical are catastrophic, they will have the chance to work with Broadway stars Angie Dickinson (Kidman) and Trent Oliver (Rannells). All of the characters will end up helping a high school senior who got her prom canceled because she wasn’t allowed to bring her girlfriend as her date.

Awkwafina will play the role of Ms. Sheldon, a publicist. Key will serve as Dee Dee’s love interest and school principal Hawkins.

It was earlier reported that Ariana Grande had been cast for the role of Alyssa, a popular student and the daughter of the school’s PTA head. But according to Billboard, Grande will not be part of the project because of her Sweetener tour, which has been extended until the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman are currently starring in HBO’s hit series “Big Little Lies.” The drama mystery is currently on its second season. Prior to the show’s premiere, Kidman shared her thoughts on what it was like working with the award-winning actress.

“I was terrified,” she told Vanity Fair. “You’re acting opposite the great one. I get nervous anyway — but to be opposite her and not want her to think, ‘Who is this amateur?’ And also, we want to deliver a series for her that she’s great in. Reese and I were like, ‘We want this for her and for the other women.’ They have much stronger roles in the second one,” she added.

Streep plays the role of Mary Louise, the mom of Celeste’s (Kidman) late husband, Perry (Alexander Skarsgard). Rumor has it that Perry is still alive.