No ‘Doubt’ About It: It’s Meryl and Philip

Streep, Hoffman Doubt It: Hollywood adaptation of John Patrick Shanley’s play attracts powerhouse cast: Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Even Cherry Jones can’t argue with that. [Variety]

Pitt, Clooney Officially in Love With Each Other: Ocean’s Whatever co-stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney will next pair in Coen Brothers’ Burn After Reading, about a CIA agent who loses the manuscript of his book. Frances McDormand co-stars. Presence of Clooney suggests that after O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty, this will mark the third of the Coens’ “idiot trilogy.� [Hollywood Reporter]

Lynch Produces Daughter’s Next Film: Indie thriller Surveillance, produced by David Lynch, will be Jennifer Lynch’s first film since Boxing Helena in 1993 — which it also happens is the year Lynch found her stars, Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond. Julian Sands wasn’t available? [Variety]

Chamberlin Joins Encores! Cast: Dirty Blonde star Kevin Chamberlin joins Kristin Chenoweth in City Center’s final Encores! show of the year, Stairway to Paradise, directed by Jerry Zaks. The show is a new revue assembled from Broadway revues of yesteryear. It finally happened: Encores! is out of shows. [Playbill]

Breaking! Young, Attractive Author Sells Novel: Widely hyped William Morris author Rivka Galchen’s first novel Atmospheric Disturbances and Other Sad Meteorological Phenomena preempted by Eric Chinski at Farrar, Strauss. Ladies and gentlemen, start your freudenschade. [Galleycat/Mediabistro]

Rome Approves “New Louvre�: Among transformations to city’s historical areas, government building next to Circus Maximus to be transformed into Great Museum of Roman History. Finally, Rome will have some damn culture. [NYT]

Björk’s Next Video Director Is You: Björk announces music-video contest; if you win, you’ll film your idea with the Icelandic diva this summer. Boy, Time’s Person of the Year is everywhere these days. [Pitchfork]