Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier has been adapted for the small and big screens many times. The most famous version is Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 movie, which won the Oscar for Best Picture and starred Laurence Olivier. Here is all there is to know about the upcoming adaptation starring Downton Abbey’s Lily James, which is coming to Netflix.
When is Rebecca out on Netflix?
Rebecca is coming to the Netflix platform on October 21.
Usually, a film like this would be expected to hit the big screen, however, there is currently no cinema release date available for the movie.
As a result, those hoping to see Rebecca will need to ensure they have a Netflix subscription to enjoy the movie.
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What is Rebecca about?
The official synopsis from Netflix reads: “After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo with handsome widower Maxim de Winter (played by Armie Hammer), a newly married young woman (Lily James) arrives at Manderley, her new husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast.
“Naive and inexperienced, she begins to settle into the trappings of her new life, but finds herself battling the shadow of Maxim’s first wife, the elegant and urbane Rebecca, whose haunting legacy is kept alive by Manderley’s sinister housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas).”
The film is based on Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel from 1938.
Who is in the cast of Rebecca?
The movie, directed by British director Ben Wheatley, stars Lily James as the new Mrs de Winter, while Armie Hammer plays the dashing yet troubled widower Mr de Winter.
Kristin Scott Thomas plays the creepy, unkind housekeeper Mrs Danvers, Keeley Hawes plays Maxim’s sister, Beatrice Lacey, while John Hollingworth plays her husband, Giles.
The Handmaid Tale’s Ann Dowd plays gossiping American Mrs Van Hopper, Bill Paterson is Dr Baker, Rebecca’s former physician, and Maleficent’s Sam Riley plays Rebecca’s lover and first cousin Jack Favell.
Finally, in the key roles, Mark Lewis Jones plays Inspector Welch while Tom Goodman-Hill plays the dutiful agent to the de Winters, Frank Crawley.
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Is there a trailer for Rebecca?
At present, all we have to go on are the images released by Netflix, which already makes clear the style of the film.
In the movie, Lily James’ Mrs de Winter seems concerned at every turn as she is held intimately, yet somewhat coldly by her husband, Mr de Winter.
In one first-look image, the pair are in the bedroom where he is holding her by her neck, while in another they are walking and smiling in the garden.
Clearly there is love between them, but there also seems to be a sense of foreboding about their relationship as, in a behind-the-scenes shot, he is rubbing sun cream in her back, but the cold sky and angry waves make the moment seem less than romantic.
As well as this, she is obviously perturbed by the treatment she receives from Mrs Danvers, who looks over her with disdain.
James’ version of Mrs de Winter is one who seems to be suspicious and clearly unpleasantly surprised by her new surroundings.
Rebecca is released on Netflix on October 21