Alfred Hitchcock & the Making of Psycho is a film currently in the works with British filmmaker, Sacha Gervasi (Anvil! The Story of Anvil), at the helm. Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins is in line to play the legendary director of suspense. Hit the jump to see all the juicy details surrounding this new and exciting project!
The U.K.’s Guardian has reported that the actor is rumored to be negotiations to play Hitchcock in a movie that accounts for the making of his most successful and memorable film, Psycho in 1960. The story of Alfred Hitchcock & the Making of Psychois based on the novel of the same title, published in 1998 by Stephen Rebello. Director Gervasi is best known for penning the script for 2004’s The Terminal, a Steven Spielberg-directed picture. Also in line is Black Swan writer John McLaughlin to adapt the script.
In addition, the website adds, “The project has been gestating for some time, and Hopkins was previously attached to a version that would have seen him star opposite Helen Mirren for director Ryan Murphy (Glee).” The Toronto Sun details that Hitchcock underwent a “struggle to finance” the film’s production. BuzzSugar tells us there is also a great deal of focus on his relationship with his wife, Alma Reville, during the movie’s development.
Movie Web reveals about the original novel, “Rebello noted that the 1960 hit Psycho was a departure for the North By Northwest director, a more explicitly shocking film that was meant to compete with other low-budget horror pictures.”
The original Psycho earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for Hitchcock (which lost to Billy Wilder for The Apartment) Best Supporting Actress for Janet Leigh, Best Art / Set Direction (Black & White), and Best Cinematography (Black & White).
The original Psycho spawned three additional sequels in subsequent years, all starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. Although, the last three are not really worth seeing, the fourth did not even make it to the big screen. It was aired as a made-for-television movie in 1990.
In 1998, a remake of the original film emerged, directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting), starring Vince Vaughn (Dilemma) as Bates, Anne Heche (Hung) as the fated Marion Crane, Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right) as Lila Crane, Viggo Mortensen (The Road) as Sam Loomis, and William H. Macy (Shameless) as Milton Arbogast. The film was shot scene-by-scene to the second, paying homage to Hitchcock’s masterful vision, although the latter version saw mixed reviews. This version also followed Joseph Stefano’s screenplay, the same that Hitchcock used to develop his earlier version, which was adapted from the 1959 novel of the same name written by Robert Bloch.
Its influence in the horror genre is still prominent today. In 1997’s Scream, killer Billy Lumis quotes Norman Bates, saying “We all go a little crazy some time.”
IMDB gives us the following biographical information about the career of the one and only “Master of Suspense:” Hitchcock himself was nominated for a total of five Academy Awards, but didn’t receive a trophy until 1968 when he accepted the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Aside from famous movies like Rear Window, Birds, To Catch a Thief, and Dial M for Murder, Hitchcock was responsible for a seven-season long televised series of short stories that demonstrated his passion for the elements of horror, suspense, comedy, and supernatural in Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
As for more details on the Hopkins movie, there is no word yet on who will play Hitchcock’s wife, or perhaps which of today’s hottest Hollywood ingénues will be cast as Janet Leigh. Although, Screen Junkies speculates over the resemblance between The Social Network‘s Andrew Garfield and Anthony Perkins, so perhaps when the Spidermanreboot is completed, we can see another side of the young actor. However, when all is said and done, Hopkins is really the best choice to play the part of Hitchcock, given his claim to fame as Hannibal Lecter with Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Red Dragon.
IMDB reports that Hopkins can be seen next in The Rite, which opens on January 28th. He has wrapped his role as Odin in Thor, is currently in production for Arabian Nights with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and is in pre-production for The Song of Names with Dustin Hoffman and 360 with Rachel Weisz and Ben Foster.
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