The 50th anniversary of the Sharon Tate murders happens next year, and there is more interest in the heinous crime than ever before. Most attention has been placed on Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming epicOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, which will use the Tate murder as a wraparound for its 60s set story. But there is another Sharon Tate movie coming, and today we have a first look at this true crime psychological thriller.
The Haunting of Sharon Tatestars former Disney princessHilary Duffin the title role. And she has already been lambasted by Sharon Tate’s sister over the movie. It’sMargot Robbie playing Sharon Tatein Tarantino’s film, which has garnered less vitriol from the Tate family. A first look photo shows what Duff has in store while embedding the character.
Saban Films announced today that they have acquired U.S. distribution rights from Voltage Pictures for the true-crime psychological thrillerThe Haunting of Sharon Tate. Hilary Duff will star alongside Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls,Cheaper by the Dozen 2) and Lydia Hearst (Between Worlds,South of Hell). Daniel Farrands (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers,The Haunting in Connecticut) wrote, directed and produced the film. Lucas Jarach and Eric Brenner also produced through Jim Jacobsen’s Skyline Entertainment banner, which also fully financed the film.
The film follows actress Sharon Tate (Duff) in the weeks leading up to her and her unborn child’s murder as she is plagued by visions of her impending death. Said Saban Films' Bill Bromiley.
“TheTate Murdersremain a horrifying cultural fascination, even nearly 50 years after they occurred. Hilary is mesmerizing as Sharon Tate; this isa brutal and unsettling story.”
Bill Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films, along with President and COO Jonathan Deckter for Voltage Pictures on behalf of filmmakers. Most recently, Saban Films acquired James Marsh’sKing of Thievesstarring Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay and Michael Gambon. At the latest Toronto International Film Festival, the company acquired:Richard Says Goodbye, the Wayne Roberts-directed drama that stars Johnny Depp, and Sarah Daggar-Nickson’sA Vigilantestarring Olivia Wilde.
Saban Films' slate also includes: Stephan Rick’s elevated genre filmThe Superstarring Val Kilmer;Between Worldsstarring Nicolas Cage; the anthologyBerlin,I Love Youwith Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley and Jim Sturgess; the Gerard Butler starrerThe Vanishing; David L.G. Hughes’Viking Destiny; Alexandre Moors’The Yellow Birdsstarring Tye Sheridan, Alden Ehrenreich, Toni Collette, Jason Patric, Jack Huston and Jennifer Aniston; Eshom and Ian Nelms' lauded featureSmall Town Crimestarring John Hawkes and Octavia Spencer; and Ivan Kavanagh’sNever Grow Oldstarring John Cusack and Emile Hirsch.
Since the company’s launch in 2014, Saban Films has released over 40 films with successes that have run the gamut from critically acclaimed theatrical films such asThe Homesman, to one of the biggest Fathom events in 2016 with Rob Zombie’s horror thriller31. Saban Films, in partnership with Roadside Attractions, most recently released Craig William Macneill’s racy dramaLizzie, starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. Other recent releases include: Brad Silberling’s war thrillerAn Ordinary Manstarring Academy Award Winner Ben Kingsley; and Alexandros Avranas’Dark Crimesstarring Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
you’re able to take a first look at Hilary Duff as Sharon Tate in the image below. This arrives months after Quentin Tarantino showed off his first look image of Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate. We’ll have to wait until next year to see who truly gets the role right.Saban Filmssent over this first look for everyone to see.
