Meryl Streep to Star in Netflix Series ‘The Corrections’ Directed by Cord Jefferson (‘American Fiction’)

For years, Hollywood has tried to adapt Jonathan Franzen’s “The Corrections.” Filmmakers such as Robert Zemeckis and Stephen Daldry were once attached to direct film versions of the novel.

In 2012, Noah Baumbach came closest to bringing it to the screen by shooting a pilot for HBO, titled Corrections, starring Anthony Hopkins, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Greta Gerwig, and Chris Cooper. Unfortunately, it never aired, and the network ultimately pulled the plug on the project.

Two years ago, Matthew Belloni reported that Meryl Streep was set to star in a series adaptation of “The Corrections,” which was intended to be pitched to streaming platforms. No director had been attached at the time, but the project was described as “big, expensive, and [of] prestige.”

We now have a major update. Netflix has won the bidding war, and Oscar winner Cord Jefferson (“American Fiction”) is set to direct all episodes. The series is being fast-tracked, with a potential production start later this year.

“The Corrections,” published in 2001, is an ambitious story that lends itself well to a limited series format. It follows a Midwestern couple and their adult children, tracing their lives from the mid-20th century to one final Christmas together. Streep will portray the mother, Enid.

This marks Streep’s third time headlining a limited series. She previously earned Emmy wins for her performances in “Holocaust” and “Angels in America.” Additionally, she has received Supporting Actress Emmy nominations for her roles in “Big Little Lies” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

As for Jefferson, his potential is enormous. I was impressed by his Oscar-winning 2023 debut, “American Fiction,” which combined satirical bite with drama and comedy, evoking the spirit of Alexander Payne’s earlier work while sparking important socio-cultural conversations. On the film side, he is currently working an untitled neo-western noir.