Netflix has just dropped the first trailer for Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca, the upcoming adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic novel of the same name. Adapted back in 1940 by Alfred Hitchcock in his directorial debut in the US, Maurier’s work is headed back to the screen after 80 years. However, Wheatley’s latest reimagining of the classic romantic-thriller is not a remake of Hitchcock’s film, but rather it’s a direct re-adaptation of the source material itself. Netflix’s Rebecca is led by Armie Hammer, Lily James, and Kristin Scott Thomas, and its due to release on October 21, 2020.
As depicted in Netflix‘s recent trailer, Rebecca follows Lily James’ newly-wed Mrs. de Winter as moves into her suave husband Maxim de Winter’s (Armie Hammer) impressive Manderley manor on a desolate English coast. James’ unsuspecting, starry-eyed character, unaware of the trappings of her new residence, begins to settle in at Manderley. But soon, her once fairytale of a marriage is sent into a frenzy as the shadow of Maxim’s first gorgeous, urbane wife, Rebecca, begins haunting her. Rebecca’s legacy is kept alive at Manderly by the disdainful housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, who despises James for stepping into her former mistress’ shoes. Check out the full trailer and the official poster for Rebecca below.
The Rebecca trailer is every bit as unnerving as one would expect. The sublime bounty of awe-inspiring shots coupled with a spectacular cast that’s rounded out by celebrated performers including, Ann Dowd, Mark Lewis Jones, Sam Riley, and Keeley Hawes, accounts for a highly cinematic experience. There is a temperamental uneasiness in the trailer that augments engagingly. And the menacing presence of Mrs. Danvers and the lingering memories of her late master also keep viewers glued to the screen.
