Lily Collins is officially stepping into one of Hollywood’s most iconic roles. The ‘Emily in Paris‘ star has tapped into the Old Hollywood glam earlier in ‘The Last Tycoon.’ But this time, she is preparing to step into the shoes of the iconic Audrey Hepburn.
The project will take us back to 1961, giving a peek into ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s‘ magic. The best part is that we won’t just be seeing a retelling of the film, we will also get a chance to see what happened behind the scenes.
‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ Behind-the-Scenes Story
‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s‘ is celebrated as a classic romantic comedy that made Holly Golightly a fashion and film icon. Truman Capote wrote it as a novella in 1958, which follows a struggling writer in New York who befriended his glamorous neighbor, Holly.
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Soon after, Hollywood decided to adapt it for the big screen. The 1961 film moved the timeline to 1960 and turned the book’s unnamed gay narrator into a straight man who fell in love with Holly. Those decisions made the story more suitable for wide audiences at the time.
Additionally, casting created serious tension. Capote strongly wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly and pushed Paramount to hire her. However, Monroe was under contract in the 20th century. Reports later revealed that advisers warned her the role could hurt her public image. As a result, the studio cast Audrey Hepburn, a decision Capote never supported.
Lily Collins To Play Audrey Hepburn In The Old-Hollywood Film
Lily Collins is all set to portray Audrey Hepburn on the set of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s‘. Don’t expect a love story, but what happened behind the camera during the film’s explosive production. The upcoming film does not yet have a title, though. It is based on Sam Wasson’s non-fiction book ‘Fifth Avenue, 5 AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman.’
In case you missed it: ‘Emily in Paris’: Emily Cooper’s Most Iconic Fashion Moments
Collins shared her excitement on Instagram and explained that the project had been in development for nearly 10 years. She said that after all that effort and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey, she could finally share the news. She also admitted that words such as ‘honoured‘ and ‘ecstatic‘ did not fully capture how she felt about taking on the role.
The film promises to deliver the first complete account of how the 1961 classic came together. It will explore early production challenges and dramatic on-set incidents. One crew member reportedly nearly suffered electrocution during the famous opening scene outside the flagship Tiffany & Co. store on Fifth Avenue.
Audrey Hepburn’s life has appeared on screen before. Jennifer Love Hewitt portrayed her in ‘The Audrey Hepburn Story‘, while Rooney Mara was once attached to a Hepburn biopic. Lily Collins now carries the responsibility of bringing Audrey Hepburn’s behind-the-scenes journey to life for a new generation.
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