According to this interview with Anthony Hopkins, promoting his latest feature “Fracture”, the announced Tolstoy biopic “The Last Station” with him and Meryl Streep in the leads, has lost its stars.

Q: Are you going to play Tolstoy?
A: No, that all fell through. I don’t know what happened to that. They postponed and it was going and then I said, “Look, I’ve got to get on with my life.” I think Meryl Streep was going to do it and I think she pulled out of it basically because it was on and then it was off.

Lots of film news these days. Although Meryl’s appearance as Tolstoy’s wife in “The Last Station” is not officially confirmed yet, Variety has reported on February 8 that “The Last Station” has completed its financing with a $1 million award this week from German funding org FFA. The pic is now set to shoot in Germany sometime this year, pending confirmation of dates by Hopkins and Streep. The pic is based on Jay Parini’s book about the aging Tolstoy’s dilemma whether to bequeath his wealth to his beloved family, or to donate it to projects for the public good. The full article can be read here.

Meryl Streep is participating in the “Lunch With A Leader” online celebrity auction. Running from February 9-19, the public can bid on an hour lunch with Meryl and dozens of other celebrities from entertainment, sports, business, politics, and journalism. Visit www.lunchwithaleader.com for more info. This is a once in a lifetime chance to have a one on one lunch with Meryl, herself! Many thanks to Peter from Communities in School for letting me know.

Thanks to Our Back for letting me know that Meryl Streep’s Carolina Herrera Golden Globe gown is currently up for auction at www.clothesoffourback.org along with other celebrity items from the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. All proceeds benefit children’s charities.

Meryl’s upcoming thriller “Dark Matter” will have its world premiere at Sundance. Festival organizers on Thursday announced the remainder of the festival slate, covering the premieres, and the Spectrum, Park City at Midnight, Sundance Collection and New Frontier programs. A complete lineup and airdates for “Dark Matter” will be published by the Sundance Institute later in December. Visit the Official Website for more information.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Meryl Streep has joined the cast of New Line Cinema’s “Rendition,” a political thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon and being directed by Gavin Hood. Written by Kelley Sane, the multilayered story centers on a CIA analyst (Gyllenhaal) based in Cairo who finds his world spinning out of control after he witnesses the interrogation of a foreign national by the Egyptian secret police. Witherspoon is playing the pregnant American wife of the national. Alan Arkin also has been cast, playing a senator. Streep is a government official who orders the rendition of the national. Shooting is under way in Los Angeles. The production also will shoot in Washington, Morocco and South Africa. Read the full article here.

USA Today has published reactions and condolences from many of Robert Altman’s colleagues and actors, including Meryl Streep. Her statement is below, the full article can be read here.

“Bob’s restless spirit has moved on – I have to say, when I spoke with him last week, he seemed impatient for the future. He still had the generous, optimistic appetite for the next thing, and we planned the next film laughing in anticipation of the laughs we’d have. What a gent, what a guy, what a great heart. There’s no one like him and we’ll miss him so.” – Meryl Streep

Tony Bennett and Meryl Streep on Wednesday launched a national TV campaign to bring aid to war-torn Darfur. “Don’t be distracted. Don’t turn away. Don’t be overwhelmed. Don’t be too busy. Don’t delay. Darfur can’t wait. Go to www.unrefugees.org,” Streep says in new public service ads. Streep and Bennett are appealing to Americans to donate to USA for U.N. Refugee Agency’s relief effort, which provides food and shelter for the millions of people who have fled their homes since fighting broke out in the Sudanese region in 2003. The complete article can be read on People.com, please also visit UNrefugees.org for more information.

Meryl Streep will present a public lecture about her career and the theater at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in McCosh 50 when she comes to Princeton University as the Belknap Visitor in the Humanities. Streep was selected to deliver this year’s Belknap lecture because of the range of her experience. The free public lecture is being presented by the Humanities Council. Tickets for Princeton students, faculty and staff with valid PUIDs will be distributed from noon to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 27-28, at the Frist Campus Center ticket office. There is a limit of two tickets per person bearing a PUID. A limited number of tickets also will be available to the public from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Richardson Auditorium ticket office in Alexander Hall, with a limit of two tickets per person. On Nov. 30, doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for ticket holders, and at 4:50 p.m. there will be general admission from a “wait line” for any available seats. Read the full article here.

Nathan Lane, Harvey Fierstein, Donny Osmond, Meryl Streep and stars of The Times They Are A-Changin’, The Jersey Boys, Tarzan and more will take part in “A Magical Evening” benefit for the Christopher Reeve Foundation Nov. 6. The event, which will celebrate the strength and courage of the late Christopher and Dana Reeve, will be held at the Marriott Marquis. Current Beauty and the Beast star Donny Osmond, The Times They Are A Changin’ lead Lisa Brescia, Tarzan duo Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese as well as stars of Jersey Boys are slated to perform. Meryl Streep, Barbara Walters, Joan Collins, Olivia Wilde, Miss USA Tara Conner as well as Matthew, Alexandra and Will Reeve will be in attendance. Read the full article here.