Stars from Outlander and Harry Potter, Caitriona Balfe and Helena Bonham Carter, have been confirmed for the upcoming film The Housekeeper. The project, inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, also features Anthony Hopkins and Emma Laird, with production starting next week.
The film The Housekeeper draws inspiration from the real-life events behind Daphne du Maurier's classic novel Rebecca. Adapted by Rose Tremain from her forthcoming novel of the same name, it is directed by Richard Eyre, known for films like Iris and The Children Act.
Caitriona Balfe, recognized for her role in Outlander, will play Danni, the housekeeper at Manderville Hall, a grand estate in Cornwall owned by the widowed Lord Grenville-Whithers, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. Helena Bonham Carter takes on the role of Adelaide, the lord's calculating niece. Emma Laird, recently seen in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and The Brutalist, stars as the young writer Daphne du Maurier.
The story unfolds against Cornwall's wild landscape, where Danni becomes entangled in a secret affair with du Maurier, stirring suppressed desires and tensions under Adelaide's scrutiny. Director Eyre described the screenplay as "dark and surprising and mysterious," adding, "we look forward to making a film which lives up to its promise."
Announced in 2024, the project initially involved Uma Thurman and Sophie Dynevor from Bridgerton, but they are no longer attached. Production begins next week.
Du Maurier's works have a rich cinematic history. Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 adaptation of Rebecca earned Best Picture at the Oscars, while other films like his Jamaica Inn and The Birds, plus Nicolas Roeg's 1973 Don't Look Now, stem from her stories. Ben Wheatley's 2020 Rebecca featured Lily James and Armie Hammer.
