Classic novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier has been adapted on several occasions in the past, and Ben Wheatley is currently getting ready to breathe new life into this old tale. His version will star Lily James and Armie Hammer.
Rebecca centers on a naive young woman, who’s swept off her feet by a charismatic widower she met in Monte Carlo. She quickly accepts his proposal, but once their honeymoon phase is over, it quickly becomes clear they won’t be getting their happily ever after.
The couple moves to husband’s imposing family estate on a bleak English coast, where it becomes obvious she’s not the only woman in his life. The legacy of his dead wife Rebecca is still haunting the house, and posing threat to their marriage.
The most memorable adaptation of Rebecca came out in 1940 and won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. Alfred Hitchcock served as director, while Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine played the lead roles, and both received an Oscar nomination for their performance. Long story short – James and Hammer have some big shoes to fill.
