With five Emmy nominations, Natasha Lyonne has earned her share of praise on the small screen. But is it time for her to finally get the same recognition for her work in features? According to Jeff Sneider, Lyonne is up for the role of comedic legend Joan Rivers in the biopic, Can We Talk?
While the project doesn’t yet have a director, it’s set up at Sony’s 3000 Pictures and has a script by The Office writer Amelie Gillette.
The casting of Lyonne is brilliant, in my opinion. Just going by the smokey, raspy voice she shares with Rivers, it’s perfect. But Lyonne is well-known for playing characters who say whatever is on their mind; they don’t hold back. That seems to be a trait that Lyonne shares with Rivers, who became famous for her relentless comedic style. She could be self-deprecating but also ruthless to others. She said what a lot of female comics were afraid to, and didn’t care what her male counterparts thought.
Joan’s daughter, Melissa Rivers, has given her blessing to the casting of Lyonne, too.
Currently, Lyonne can be seen starring in Peacock’s hit series, Poker Face. She will also have a role in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, presumably as Alicia Masters.
How good Can We Talk? turns out to be will depend a lot on the director, and whether the film is willing to break some biopic conventions. Will it be surface level only or go deep into what really made Joan Rivers tick?
