I had to look up the two main men. Pics of "Morelli" and "Ranger" can be found here.

I can't guess whom John Leguizamo is playing. Any ideas?

I really liked Jason O'Mara on Life on Mars,
but don't see him as Morelli at all! In fact
I was thinking another Life on Mars cast member.
But can't think of his name right now!!!

Thanks for the info and the link- they both look good to me. :)

Pittsburgh looks nothing like NJ! LOL!!

Thanks for the info and for the link.

Looking forward to this movie.

Yeah--why aren't they filming in Joisey?

Thanks for the link, I don't see Morelli either. Ranger, hmmmm good possibility. I guess I will have to watch this and see how it all pans out, if its believable or not! LOL
I love the Stephanie Plum books!

Deemarie- I agree totally with you. I'm very familiar with both cities and my guess is that Pittsburgh is a lot safer and has more amenities available for the cast and crew during the production. They're filming on the Northside and some other areas.

Here's a quote from today's Pittsburgh Post Gazette...............

In "One for the Money," Ms. Evanovich writes: "Stark Street started down by the river, just north of the statehouse, and ran in a northeasterly direction. Crammed with small inner-city businesses, bars, crack houses and cheerless three-story row houses, the street stretched close to a mile."

Part of the neighborhood near the old Garden Theater has been turned into Stark Street, including the exterior location for the gym where Plum goes seeking information and finds a very hostile heavyweight boxer. To conceal the park on the opposite street, a makeshift wall covered with graffiti and posters has been erected.

Cries of "Lock up traffic" yesterday echoed down North Avenue, and the occasional real-life ambulance siren interrupted proceedings. The production is keeping a fire lane open, although one ambulance swung around the location on the way to nearby Allegheny General Hospital.

The Crazy Mocha coffee shop on East North Avenue assures patrons that it's open for business during filming, even if it appears to have been transformed into a tobacco outlet -- at least on one side. Across Federal Street, there's Trenton Tattoo, a hoagie shop and an adult book-video store plus a couple of Trenton police cars, all for the movie.

Yesterday, a couple of familiar faces in unfamiliar hair styles and colors and fashions were stationed in front of the adult store and tattoo parlor. They belonged to Ms. Heigl, clad in a green top and jeans with long dark hair hanging loose, and Sherri Shepherd and Ryan Michelle Bathe, who play hookers Lula and Jackie.

Stephanie was questioning the pair about a possible witness to a shooting who's gone missing. Ms. Shepherd, in a short wig, was closer to Ms. Evanovich's description of the women's wear of stretchy tank tops and tight-fitting knit shorts while Ms. Bathe's slender form was balanced on high heels in the 86-degree heat. "Bye bye," Ms. Shepherd called out, ending the encounter as the trio drifted toward some bottles of water and a tent providing cover for the filmmakers.

"One for the Money," being directed by Julie Anne Robinson, also plans to shoot in Braddock, Shadyside and Ambridge through early September. Its cast includes Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata and John Leguizamo with a tentative release date of summer 2011.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10204/1074699-60.stm?cmpid=entertainment.xml#ixzz0uomLOTGt

John L? Could he be Vinnie? Or own the funeral parlor?
Kathy G in MI

Vinnie? that sounds possible. But I picutre
him as a BIG guy. I don't remember how
he is described in the books. What about the
manager of her apartments? but that wouldn't be
a big enough roll, probably.

I still think Lauren Graham would be better as Stephanie
than Heigl

Kat- you're right - Lauren Graham would have been perfect. Kaatherine Heigl doesn't do a thing for me.

I'm not sure what part John L is playing. The IMDB web site said he was playing a character named Jimmy Alpha. But I don't remember who that was. And you never know they may have created a new character for the movie.

Maire

I always pictured Dwayne Johnson (the rock) as Ranger, when I was casting the stories in my head. I also thought Courtney Cox should be Stephanie. But Courtney, like Lauren are both too old, at this point, for the part.

I am OK with the casting for Ranger and Stephanie but Jason O'Mara desn't do it for me as Morelli. He looks too old and tired for the role and doesn't have that "bad boy" thing going. Cop yes, sexy Italian cop no.

In Finger Looking Sixteen Janet Evanovich goes into some great detail describing some of the characters. Connie (the office manager) is described as the stereotypical long dark haired Italian beauty which Stephanie is not since she is 1/2 Hungarian. They cast Ana Reeder as Connie! HUH??

Patrick Fischler plays Vince. Another HUH??

I think the actress cast as Lula can pull it off.

Here is a link that might be useful: One For The Money

I wanted the Rock, maybe he can play Tank. I'm listening to 16 now.

The first one was very violent. If I'd heard that one first I'm not sure I would have believed how funny they are. Maybe John L is the bad guy.

This is a very cool youtube casting suggestion video. Enjoy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Who Should Play......

Wildchild...that video was pretty darned close on characters I would pick! I just finished number 12...DH got me a kindle for my birthday and downloaded all 16 books so I'm just zipping right thru them!

I think the characters they picked for the movie are pretty close but I'm not pleased with Morelli...but then again...a little hair color and attitudes can do wonders for a character...Debbie Reynolds is gonna have to get tough!

I don't remember any Jimmy Alpha in any of the books so he must have been added for the movie!

One of those books was talking about Lula being so big and said she wore a size 16. I almost fainted. Who ever thought 16 was big?

first off ranger is latino...and katherine h? no way! she too soft!

john l. looks like what i picture vinnie..he's a slight stature in the books...that daniel sunjata, no way as ranger...

Jimmy Alpha is in the first book, he is the owner/trainer of Benito Ramirez, the boxer. And,Vinnie is described as "45, 5'7" without his lifts, and had the slim, boneless body of a ferret."

Liz! You got a Kindle? I didn't know that. Congrats!

I think complaining about the casting at this point is .......pointless! Sounds like it's all a done deal. I say let's give 'em all a chance. It's rare that a much loved series of books translates well into a movie, anyway.... this might be the only one or it might be the beginning of a great bunch of movies. I can't wait to go see it.

I'm just not buy Heigel as Stephanie Plum? But we'll see? Ranger looks good, but Morelli should be more typical Italian, darker etc? John L would be a good choice and I love Sherri Sheppard!

Despite the above, I'll definitely see it!

wildchild, that video is what I'm talking about!!! That would be great casting!!! I'm guessing they would need a huge budget for all that star power! But it would be worth it. I hope this movie turns out good, because it will be a big disappointment otherwise.

that's the problem...they never stay true to the book...

There are safe (and beautiful) areas of Trenton just as there are unsafe and blighted areas of Pittsburgh. The reason it was not filmed in New Jersey was due to money. NJ legislators were talking of revoking film and television tax credits just around the time Trenton was being considered as a location and thus the production company decided on Pittsburgh. Serious grumblings against NJ the tax credit had a lot to do with that most ridiculous TV show 'Jersey Shore' which angered many residents and politicians who felt it demeaned the state. The NJ Assembly was due to vote on reinstating the tax credits in early Jan 2012.