It's starting to look like we can probably pencil in a couple of Oscar nominees for next year with the announcement that Meryl Streep is to take on the role of the avenging Mother Superior in the film version of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winning play "Doubt" opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman as the priest she suspects of child abuse. (CLICK HERE for a list of previous clerical contenders.) The role of the young nun caught in the middle of their cat-and-mouse game is still uncast, but will be a plum part for the actress lucky enough to land it. The only possible hiccup could be that John Patrick Shanley, Oscar winner for the screenplay of "Moonstruck," who is adapting his play, is also directing. His only other film - "Joe Versus the Volcano," a rare misstep for Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan back in 1990.

Of course, there is the usual grumbling along the Rialto that Cherry Jones, Tony winner as the original Sister Aloysius, was passed over for the part, as was Brian F. O'Byrne who played the priest, but as they say in Hollywood, "that's showbiz." Just ask Cynthia Nixon who picked up a Tony last year as the grief-stricken mother in "Rabbit Hole." While she was delighted that her pal David Lindsay-Abaire won the Pulitzer for that play on Monday, how happy can she be that Nicole Kidman, Streep's Oscar winning co-star from "The Hours," gets to be in the movie version which is to begin filming later this year? (CLICK HERE to cotinue reading!)

Photos, from top: Cherry Jones leaves no "Doubt" as to who is in charge while Cynthia Nixon wants to hide down a "Rabbit Hole." (MTC)