Natasha Lyonne is reportedly set to appear in a biopic of comedienne Joan Rivers. Lyonne, whose next project is Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, was recently in the public eye with her acclaimed show, Poker Face, from Rian Johnson. There haven’t been any official announcements, except for a rumor from an industry insider.
Joan Rivers was popular for her self-deprecating jokes, as well as her sharp, straightforward digs at celebrities. Her jokes were often considered insensitive, resulting in multiple controversies throughout her life. Rivers’ jokes have also gotten her many death threats during her lifetime. She passed away in 2014.
Natasha Lyonne reportedly set to appear in Joan Rivers’ biopic
According to insider Jeff Sneider, Natasha Lyonne is being eyed for the role of Joan Rivers in the biopic, which will reportedly be titled Can We Talk?. The title was Rivers’ most famous catchphrase. Sneider further shared in his report that Sony’s 3000 Pictures will be producing the film. Lyonne began her career as a child actress and progressed to mature roles.
Her famous roles include Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll, and Poker Face. She recently appeared in the Netflix film, His Three Daughters, alongside Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen. Natasha Lyonne is also set to appear in the upcoming MCU film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Lyonne and Rivers have crossed paths with each other, both being from the comedy field. In 2010, they both paid a surprise visit to Charles Busch’s comedy play, The Divine Sister (via Playbill). Lyonne has a challenging task ahead if she is confirmed to portray Rivers on the screen.
Rivers started her career in comedy clubs and moved on to television appearances, the most famous being her guest role on The Tonight Show. The show established her comedic style as self-deprecating and heavily critical towards celebrities and politicians. She later hosted her own talk show, The Late Show with Joan Rivers, becoming the first female late-night talk show host.
From 1989 to 1993, she hosted The Joan Rivers Show. From 2010 until her death in 2014, she hosted the celebrity fashion show, Fashion Police, and the reality series with her daughter, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?. Her first major film was Rabbit Test, which she co-wrote and directed. She voiced the role of Dot Matrix in Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs.
Joan Rivers had a controversial comedy style
Joan Rivers was both praised and criticized for her comedy style. While her straightforward and truthful touch gained praise, some of her comments felt too personal and gossipy. Her humor, satirizing celebrities and public figures, was considered controversial. Her comments against Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Taylor, and Adele received backlash from the media.
Rivers also received brutal backlash, including death threats, for touching upon sensitive topics. She had made jokes about the Holocaust, the Ariel Castro kidnappings, and several other issues, and later refused to apologize for those jokes.
When it comes to her relationships, she was married to James Sanger, a merchandise manager, for six months in the 1950s. She later married producer Edgar Rosenberg, with whom she had her only child, Melissa Rivers. Rivers and Rosenberg were married until his death by suicide in 1987, four days after she asked him for a separation.
She later revealed during an interview with Howard Stern that she had extramarital affairs with actor Robert Mitchum and actor Gabriel Dell (via Vanity Fair). She died in 2014 after experiencing serious complications during a minor throat procedure.
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