Only Murders in the Creator Building Casting Meryl Streep

Just murders in the buildingwhich John Hoffman created with Steve Martin, received 21 Emmy nominations this year, including one for best comedy series — a feat Hoffman, a four-time Emmy winner, says The Hollywood Reporter it is “affirmation”.

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How did the central story of season three come together?

For me to have the confidence to lead a writers’ room and build a season of a show like this with a cast like this, I have to feel like I know this story in my bones. I based Oliver (Martin Short’s character) on an old drama teacher of mine who I was very close to until he passed away, Dr. Richard Mason – he was known as the ‘Mayor of Charles Street’ in Greenwich Village. Pursuing a theatrical effort through Oliver’s mind, I knew, would take a lot of swing, especially when I decided it made sense for Oliver to take a straight play and turn it into a musical. There was also going to be this very delicate and twisted love story with his new leading lady — and that was all there before we knew who that leading lady was going to be.

How did you land the role with Meryl Streep?

It’s crazy. I was with (EPs) Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal, going through the opening scene for season three, potentially this actress walking on stage, auditioning for a role, and Oliver being blown away by both the talent and the woman who was standing in front of him, and I said to Dan and Jess, “Well, the perfect person to play this part – you know who that is?” They say, “Who?” And I said, “Well, Meryl Streep.” And they said, “Good luck with that, John.” Then literally two weeks later, I get a text from Steve and Marty saying, “Hey, Meryl Streep just reached out and said she’d like to talk about doing something together. Should we bring the show?” I said, “Yes!” And a week later, they called and said, “Hey, Meryl just said she’s here if you think we have anything to do. Do we have anything good?” And I was like, “Oh shit.”

How did your first call with her go?

I introduced the character to a very nervous Zoom. I said, ‘We open up about your character, actually, in the very first scene, but you’re 10 years old and you’re visiting New York from St. Louis with your mother, bringing you to your first Broadway show, it’s called No strings. And before I could go any further, Meryl said, “I saw that.” And I said, “What?!” She said: “Yes, I saw it with my mum… Diahann Carroll was in it. She sang this beautiful song.” And he began to sing “The Sweetest Sounds.” I said, “OK, I don’t know what the hell is going on right now, but Meryl, you have to stop because my head is going to explode. The lyrics you just sang are on the first page of the script I’ll send you after we close. And she said, “What?!” ”

You ticked a lot of people off your casting list. Who’s left?

There are so many. But I’ll be honest: we wondered, because I love her so much, about Catherine O’Hara. We have to find the right thing. If we can get an idea, this is someone who is definitely in my sights and always has been.

This story first appeared in the August Independent issue of The Hollywood Reporter. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.