David Farnor | On 08, Sep 2020

“Come to Manderley.” That’s the sound of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca heading to Netflix this October, as Ben Wheatley directs a new film based on the gothic novel.

Starring Armie Hammer and Lily James, the film follows a young newlywed who arrives at her husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.

The supporting cast includes Ann Dowd (The Leftovers, Hereditary), Sam Riley (reuniting with Wheatley after Free Fire) and Keeley Hawes, while Kristin Scott Thomas plays the iconic, frosty and formidable housekeeper, Mrs Danvers.

The film premieres on Netflix on 21st October and will also be released in select UK cinemas. Here’s the new video:

 

First look: Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca arrives on Netflix this October

7th August 2020

Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca will arrive on Netflix this October and we’ve got our first look at the star-studded drama in action.

Produced by Working Title and penned by Jane Goldman, the adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel follows a newly married couple who arrive at the husband’s imposing family estate, Manderley, on a bleak English coast – only for the unsuspecting bride to find herself battling the shadow of his dead first wife, the mysterious Rebecca, whose legacy continues to haunt the house.

Armie Hammer and Lily James star as the lead duo, joined by Kristin Scott Thomas as the formidable housekeeper Mrs Danvers. The supporting cast is no less impressive, with Ann Dowd (The Leftovers, Hereditary), Sam Riley (reuniting with Wheatley after Free Fire) and Keeley Hawes co-starring.

That list of talent alone is enough to catch film fans’ interest, and the first images of the production promises style and atmosphere aplenty. You can see those below – and you can watch the whole film when it premieres on Netflix on 21st October.

 

Keeley Hawes, Ann Dowd and Sam Riley join Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca

1st June 2019

Production is about to kick off on Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca, but the Kill List director is still adding more impressive names to his cast.

The Netflix movie, announced earlier this year, already has a striking list of talent involved, from Wheatley behind the camera alongside screenwriter Jane Goldman (The Woman in Black) to lead couple Lily James and Armie Hammer.

They play a newly-married couple who arrive at her husband’s imposing family estate on a bleak English coast, only for the unsuspecting bride to find herself battling the shadow of his dead first wife, the mysterious Rebecca, whose legacy continues to haunt the house.

Produced by Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, plus Nira Park, the adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel only gets more intriguing, as Netflix has announced three more names for the ensemble: Ann Dowd (The Leftovers, Hereditary), Sam Riley (reuniting with Wheatley after Free Fire) and Bodyguard star, Spooks legend and all-round national treasure Keeley Hawes. They join the previously announced Kristin Scott Thomas.

The film will start production next week in the UK and France, with Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse working on revisions to the script.

 

Kristin Scott Thomas joins Netflix’s Rebecca

10th May 2019

Kristin Scott Thomas has joined the cast of Netflix’s feature film adaptation of Rebecca.

Daphne du Maurier’s classic thriller has been adapted many times for the screen, but Netflix is paving the way for a promising new take on the novel, courtesy of High Rise and Kill List director Wheatley and The Woman in Black writer Jane Goldman. The project swiftly assembled an impressive cast, with Lily James and Armie Hammer signing on to star. Now, the movie has found its Mrs. Dancers in the form of Scott Thomas.

The story, for those who haven’t read it, tells the story of a newly-married young woman who, on arriving at her husband’s imposing family estate on a bleak English coast, finds herself battling the shadow of his dead first wife, the mysterious Rebecca, whose legacy continues to haunt the house.

Produced by Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, plus Nira Park, the film will start production this summer in the UK and France.

 

Ben Wheatley to direct Rebecca for Netflix starring Lily James

15th November 2018

Ben Wheatley will direct a new adaptation of Rebecca for Netflix, starting Lily James.

Daphne du Maurier’s classic romantic thriller has been adapted many times for the screen, but now, you can expect a new injection of gothic chills to the tale, with the High Rise and Kill List signing on to helm a film based on the text for Netflix. He’s joined by screenwriter Jane Goldman, who has creepy form of her own, having adapted Daniel Radcliffe’s The Woman in Black for the screen.

Rebecca tells the story of a newly-married young woman who, on arriving at her new husband’s imposing family estate on a bleak English coast, finds herself battling the shadow of his dead first wife, the mysterious Rebecca, whose legacy continues to haunt the house. Lily James will star as the young bride, opposite Armie Hammer as her husband.

James was most recently seen in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Her previous credits include Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Academy Award Winner Darkest Hour, and Cinderella, and she will soon be seen in an Untitled Danny Boyle Film. For Hammer, the film marks a reunion with Wheatley, having previously appeared in the director’s darkly funny actioner Free Fire.

Wheatley, meanwhile, is no stranger to streaming, after A Field in England became the first title to be released simultaneously in cinemas, on DVD, on VOD and on free TV all on the same day. His latest, Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, will also be released on BBC iPlayer this Christmas, following its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival (pictured above).

Rebecca will be produced by Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, plus Nira Park.

 

Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for BFI

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