Both the big and the small screen have become obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock of late, more so than ever before. Hitchcock and The Girl explored some of the darker aspects of the famed director's personal and professional life, while A&E's Psycho prequel, Bates Motel, broke ratings records. Early last year we learned that Dreamworks was planning to remake Hitchcock's Oscar-winning thriller, Rebecca, and now they've found their guy to be at the helm.
Nikolaj Arcel, who last directed the Oscar-nominated period piece A Royal Affair, has been chosen to direct the film, which features a script by Eastern Promises writer Steven Knight. The original version starred Laurence Olivier as a rich widower who can't escape the memory of his dead wife, which continues to haunt the manor and his latest marriage.
It was one of Hitchcock's most accomplished works and the only Best Picture winner of his career. The film actually sticks faithfully to Daphne du Maurier's novel for the most part, with only a few small changes due to the Hollywood Production Code. Arcel is expected to do a rewrite on Knight's script, and apparently his hiring has a lot of actresses interested in joining the film.
Production on Rebecca won't begin until Arcel completes his adaptation of Don Winslow's best seller, The Power of the Dog. [Deadline]
