Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel has been adapted several times for stage and screen. Perhaps the most celebrated is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Ben Wheatley takes a stab at this alluring romantic thriller which will star the vastly underrated Lily James and feature Armie Hammer in his second significant October film role (the other being Kenneth Branagh’s “Death on the Nile”).
The first trailer lays out the story well. A young woman (James) is swept away by a debonair widower (Hammer). The two marry and settle into his Manderley estate where the memories of his old wife Rebecca haunt every room and every hall. Add a deliciously devious Kristen Scott Thomas playing the housekeeper who’s happy to add even more tension between the new couple. The trailer shows off a sparkling period production design but melds it with a creepy Gothic feel, both of which fit the story well. I’m excited for this one.
“Rebecca” premieres October 21st on Netflix. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Keith & the Movies 
I watched 1:32 of the trailer and oh heck yes, I’m watching it. I’ll tell you right now the first thing I would do as the new mistress is fire that housekeeper (and get a PPO out on her if those things existed back in the day.)
HaHa! Kristen Scott Thomas will be a perfect fit for that role. Can’t wait to see this!
Oh, wow! This will be tough to surpass the 1940 version. I guess it is time for a redux, although they rarely do the trick. I am excited by the cast, especially KST. .
I’ll be working hard not to compare it to the 1940 classic. That would be too much of a burden for the new movie to handle. I am excited for it. Love seeing Lily James getting a meaty role.
I like her a lot. I liked her smile in Cinderella and Yesterday.
Yes, KST is the draw for me too, but the original was a Hitchcock masterpiece, a very hard act to follow.
Just try not to compare them too much. Think of it more as another adaptation of the novel. That usually helps me in cases like this.
I still haven’t seen the original version by Hitchcock which is one of many of his films that I have yet to watch. That I want to see first and maybe I’ll check this one out though the music that is played on the trailer I found to be very grating. I hate modern music. It’s so lazy and lifeless.
Not a big modern music fan either. I do love Lily James who I hope opens up some eyes with this one.
💛
It will be interesting to see if the ending is true to the book this time, as the Hitchcock film had to change it a little due to the moral code.
Oooooh that’s right! I’ve never read the book but I remember hearing that the ending did have to be rewritten due to the studio codes.
I really liked her in The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society…
Yep. Me too.
Looks good! Love Lily James (although when I saw the picture at the top of you post, I initially thought she was Kiernan Shipka). I’ve never read the book or seen any of the other adaptions.
I’m a huge fan of Lily James. She’s such a natural actress.
Definitely. And always delightful to watch.