MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / MOVIES

'The Prom': Meet Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, James Corden and the cast of Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical

'The Prom' follows Emma Nolan, a young woman determined to take her girlfriend to prom since the duo were banned from coming to the event as a couple

Six Primetime Emmy award recipient, Ryan Murphy is set to direct the upcoming Netflix release titled 'The Prom'. You may remember his works when it comes to 'American Horror Story', 'American Crime Story', and 'Glee'. 'The Prom' follows Emma Nolan, a young woman determined to take her girlfriend to prom since the duo were banned from coming to the event as a couple. But, Nolan isn't alone, she has a few stars to help her speak up. Here is the A-list cast bringing the movie to life.

Meryl Streep as Dee Dee Allen

Streep plays has-been Broadway star Dee Dee Allen in the movie. Streep is known for her many works in the entertainment industry, as Karen in 'Out of Africa' (1985), Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006), Violent Weston in 'August: Osage County' (2013) and Sophie in 'Sophies Choice' (1982). Her more recent works include 'Little Women' (2019), the narrator of 'Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth' (2020), and the TV mini-series 'James and the Giant Peach with Taika and Friends' (2020). Besides 'The Prom,' Streep also has another film completed for 2020 titled 'Let Them All Talk' (2020). She will also be playing the role of President Janie Orlean in 'Don't Look Up' which is listed as filming. The actress has been nominated for umpteen Oscars and has won three. In 1980 she won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), in 1983 she won for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 'Sophie's Choice' and 2012 she won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for 'The Iron Lady' (2011). She's also won three Primetime Emmys - one in 1978 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for 'Holocaust' (1978), one in 2004 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for 'Angels in America' (2003), and lastly one in 2017 for Outstanding Narrator for 'Five Came Back'.

James Corden as Barry Glickman 

Corden is popularly known for his show 'The Late Late Show with James Corden', but is also known for his works in 'Into the Woods', 'Gavin & Stacey' (2007-2019),'Cats' (2019), 'Great Performances' (2020) and the voice of Superintelligence in 'Superintelligence' (2020). Corden is also a writer and producer - he has writer's credit for 'Game On!' (2020), 'The Wrong Mans' (2019), and 'Gavin & Stacey'. He has producer credits for the former two. He's also won a lot of Primetime Emmy's - in 2020 he won one for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for 'Carpool Karaoke' which he shared with executive producers of the series.

Jo Ellen Pellman as Emma Nolan

Pellman is fairly new to the acting scene - her credits include her roles in 'Alternatino with Arturo Castro' (2019), as Mary Brandt in 'The University' (2019), as Bree in 'The Deuce' (2019), and her work in the TV series 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' (2019). In the musical, she plays a high-school senior barred from bringing her female friend to the prom.

Keegan-Michael Key as Mr Hawkins, the High School Principal

Key is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer - he is known for his roles a Clarence Goobril in 'Keanu' (2016), Pupa in 'Let's Be Cops' (2014), Coyle in 'The Predator' (2018) and Hugo in 'Tomorrowland: A World Beyond' (2015). His most recent works include 'Rick and Morty' (2015-2019), 'Home Movie: The Princess Bride' (2020), and 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' (2020). He has a release titled 'Wendell and Wild' (2021) in filming and a release titled 'Untitled Cecily Strong/Apple TV+ Project' in pre-production. The actor also has writing credits for 'MADt' (2004-2005), 'Rubberhead' (2014), 'This is Not Happening' (2015) and 'Key and Peele'. Key won a Primetime Emmy in 2016 for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series FOR 'Key and Peele' (2012) which he shared with executive producers of the series. In 2014 he also won the Festival Award at the Chicago Comedy Film Festival for Best Actor for 'Teacher of the Year'. 

Kerry Washington as Mrs. Greene, the Head PTA member

Washington is known for her roles as Broomhilda von Shaft in 'Django Unchained' (2012), Olivia Pope in 'Scandal' (2012-2018), Chenile in 'Save the Last Dance' (2001) and Kay Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland' (2006). Her recent works include 'American Son' (2019) and 'Little Fires Everywhere' (2020). She has a release titled '22-7' in preproduction and another release titled 'Run' that has been announced. Washington was nominated for two Golden Globes - one in 2014 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for 'Scandal' and another in 2017 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for 'Confirmation' (2016). This year, she also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for 'Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'' (2019).

Ariana DeBose as Alyssa Greene, Emma's girlfriend

DeBose is known for her works on 'Hamilton' (2020), Daphne in 'Seaside' (2018), Her in 'Fragile' (2019). She is also set to be Anita in 'West Side Story' (2021). Her other notable works include 'Blue Bloods' (2016) where she played the role of Sophia Ortiz.

Nicole Kidman as Angie Dickinson

Kidman is known for her roles as Satine in 'Moulin Rouge!' (2001), Virginal Wolf in 'The Hours' (2002), Ada Monroe in 'Cold Mountain' (2003), and Grace Margaret Mulligan in 'Dogville' (2003). Most recently she played the role of Erin Bell in 'Destroyer' (2018), Atlanna in 'Aquaman' (2018), Celeste Wright in 'Big Little Lies' (2017-2019), Gretchen Carlson in 'Bombshell' (2019), and Grace Fraser in 'The Undoing' (2020). She has a release titled 'The Northman' which is listed as filming and another release titled 'Nine Perfect Strangers' that is in pre-production. In 2003, the actress won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 'The Hours' (2002). She's also won four Golden Globes - in 1996 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical for 'To Die For' (1995), in 2002 for the same category for 'Moulin Rouge!', in 2003 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for 'The Hours' and one in 2018 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for 'Big Little Lies.'

Andrew Rannells as Trent Oliver

Rannells is known for his roles as Darren in 'A Simple Favour' (2018), Cameron in 'The Intern' (@015), Manny in 'Bachelorette' (2012), and as part of the wedding chorus in 'Sex and the City 2' (2010). His recent works include the TV series 'Central Park' (2020), 'The Boys in the Band' (2020), 'The Great Work Begins. Scenes from Angels in America' (2020), and 'Black Monday' (2019-2021). He has a release titled 'The Stand-In' that has been completed, and another release titled 'Invincible' that is in post-production. In 2012 he won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for 'The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording' which he shared with Josh Gad, Anne Garfino, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin, Matt Stone and Frank Filippetti.

The official synopsis reads, "'The Prom' follows Dee Dee Allen (three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (Tony Award winner James Corden) who are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers. Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma's predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift. But when their self-absorbed celebrity activism unexpectedly backfires, the foursome find their own lives upended as they rally to give Emma a night where she can truly celebrate who she is."

Catch 'The Prom' on December 11, 2020, on Netflix. Watch the trailer below.