There are some classics you just don't mess with. The Godfather is a masterpiece and no macaroni and cheese was improved by breadcrumbs. Up until recently, we would've considered Anthony Minghella's 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley to be part of this crowd... and yet. Word is Netflix will be putting its own spin on Patricia Highsmith's thrilling 1955 novel. We were against it at first (we saw the way Dynasty was butchered) but after glimpsing the names attached, hearts and minds have been swayed. So what can we expect from the forthcoming eight-episode limited series entitled Ripley? All the details below.
Watch the trailer
After dropped the first teaser trailer back in January, Netflix has given us an official glimpse at Ripley. Take a look, below.
What will the Ripley reboot be about?
From what we know so far, the Ripley reboot will stay loyal to the plot of the novel and original adaptation. If you haven't encountered either, the story opens with Tom Ripley, a petty conman scraping by in 1960s New York. When Ripley is hired by a wealthy shipping magnate to convince his transient son Dickie Greenleaf to return home from Italy, he quickly becomes entangled in Greenleaf and his girlfriend Marge Sherwood's idyllic lifestyle. As obsession consumes Ripley, Greenleaf grows wary and the story descends into a tale of deception and murder.
One of the reasons Minghella's 1999 adaptation is considered a cult classic is its heady dose of la dolce vita. From the crisp linens, bronzed bodies and exceptional casting (Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman), although other films have tried nothing has come close since. The promising thing about the Netflix adaptation is that it seems to be forging an entirely new identity for the film. The first look stills while transportive, are rendered in black and white, and seem to have a touch of Tom Ford's A Single Man about them. We're certainly intrigued...
Who is involved?
Andrew Scott, the hot priest from Fleabag, and more recently the star of All Of Us Strangers, has secured the titular role of Ripley. Meanwhile, Johnny Flynn from Emma and Lovesick will play Greenleaf and Dakota Fanning will star as Sherwood. Joining them is RUSSH Freedom cover star, Eliot Sumner, and Italian actor Pasquale Esposito.
The series will be written, directed, and executive produced by Steve Zaillian, who won an Oscar for penning the script for Schindler's List. Zaillian's other credits include The Irishman and Gangs of New York, which implies Ripley will veer towards a darker, crime-focused lens.
Is there a release date?
Netflix has confirmed that Ripley will drop on the streaming platform on Thursday 4 April, 2024.
