We love a book to movie adaptation as much as anyone – here’s the latest one to add to your list. Anne Hathaway stars in Eileen, based on the captivating page turner by author Ottessa Moshfegh, which is also set to be adapted for the big screen.
There’s been a considerable amount of hype already. It premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and Anne Hathaway herself has described it as “Carol meets Reservoir Dogs”. Very cool.
Here’s everything we know about Eileen so far.
What is Eileen about?
The plot synopsis is as follows: “In frigid 1960s Boston, Eileen (played by JoJo Rabbit actor Thomasin McKenzie) shuffles between her father’s dingy, emotionally haunted home and the prison where she works alongside colleagues who have ostracized her.
“When an intoxicating woman (Hathaway) joins the prison staff, Eileen is taken. Just when the possibility of a salvational friendship takes hold and forms a singular glimmer in Eileen’s darkness, her newfound confidant entangles her in a shocking crime that alters all.”
Who has been cast in Eileen?
Alongside Anna and Thomasin, we will see Shea Wigham, Marin Ireland (Homeland, The Umbrella Academy) and Owen Teague (It, Black Mirror).
What have the team behind Eileen said about it so far?
Ottessa has described being inspired by the danger and tension she felt living amongst the West Coast wildfires in 2020 while she wrote the screenplay. “There was a sense of looming danger haunting us, which actually really helped the writing process,” she told Vanity Fair.
Seeing as Anne doesn’t play the title character, but rather the mysterious, beguiling, potentially dangerous support, she has described that her performance was all about “bringing main character energy to a supporting part — and having that translate.”
She has also spoken about the complexity of her character Rebecca: “The idea of playing someone who was delusional, but blind to their own delusions or how they come across — that’s when it got really, really juicy for me.”
Anne has given glowing reviews to the film, outside of her own performance. “It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever been in,” she said to Vanity Fair. “Even if I wasn’t in it, it’d be one of my favorite things I’ve seen in ages.”
Completely understandably, Thomasin has completely fangirled about working with Anne, describing how it fed into their dynamic on screen.
“I think one of my favorite films of all time is The Princess Diaries, so meeting Anne, I was pretty starstruck, to be honest,” she said. “That really worked in my favor. My personal perspective of Anne matched Eileen’s relationship with Rebecca… in a much less extreme and disturbed way.
“Eileen has no positive female influences in her life. That’s why she really latched on to Rebecca. It’s a chance at some connection.”
When will Eileen be released?
It’s out in cinemas from December 1.
Originally published in Glamourmagazine.co.uk
