Meryl Streep has been announced for the role of Joni Mitchell in a new biopic directed by Cameron Crowe. The casting was confirmed at Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday, ending months of speculation.
The project had been under development for years but lacked official confirmation. Previously, several actors including Anya Taylor-Joy and Amanda Seyfried were rumored to be cast as Mitchell in different stages of her life. However, only Streep’s role has been officially confirmed.
Cameron Crowe first announced his intention to make a film about Mitchell’s life from her perspective in 2023. The director had previously said, “It’s Joni’s life, not through anybody else’s prism. It’s through her prism.”
Speculation surrounding the casting began when Amanda Seyfried played Mitchell on the dulcimer on Jimmy Fallon’s show last year and sang a rendition of Mitchell’s “California,” sparking renewed interest in her potential role.
Taylor Swift was also considered for a film adaptation of Sheila Weller’s book, “Girls Like Us,” which explores Mitchell’s impact on the music scene alongside Carole King and Carly Simon. However, she has not been officially confirmed for any part of this project.
In 2014, Joni Mitchell told New York Magazine that she did not believe Taylor Swift would be cast as her due to their visual similarities. Mitchell noted, “Physically, she looks similarly small-hipped and high cheekbones. I can see why they cast her. I don’t know what her music sounds like, but I do know this – that if she’s going to sing and play me, good luck.”