From Disturbia to the recent Stoker, not to mention countless of other films, the works of Alfred Hitchcock are continually being reimagined, drawn from, copied, etc., but now an actual formal remake is coming together. First reported on over a year ago, DreamWorks brought on Eastern Promises screenwriter Steven Knight to write an adaptation of the 1940 Hitchcock classic Rebecca, one that will pull from Daphne DuMaurier‘s novel as its source.
The mystery noir update now has a director, according to Deadline. Coming off his Oscar-nominated A Royal Affair, the gig has been handed to Nikolaj Arcel. The original Best Picture winner starred Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson and follows a new bride who is haunted by the memory of the former wife of her rich, new husband.
Most remake news causes us to tear our heads off, but Arcel’s latest film, starring Mads Mikkelsen and the rising Alicia Vikander, was well-received and Knight is a proven talent, so hopefully this one can be the rare update that succeeds. Word has it that young female talent in Hollywood is already being sought after to lead (could we see Vikander return?), so check out the trailer for Rebecca below as we await casting news.
Did you see A Royal Affair? Is this director a good fit?