Director Ben Wheatley adamant his upcoming Rebecca adaptation for Netflix is not a Hitchcock remake

Ben Wheatley films come in a flavour all of their own, and that looks set to continue with his upcoming adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which is set to launch October 21st on Netflix. Generally, du Maurier’s story is known for the classic Hitchcock adaptation which is considered among the legendary director’s greatest films. Wheatley though is a unique storyteller, and ahead of his version of Rebecca’s launch, the filmmaker has emphasised that his adaptation of the novel is in no way a remake of Hitchcock’s.

According to Dark Horizons, the director of Free Fire and A Field In England has been speaking about how the project is unique in its take on du Maurier’s source material, stating that he checked out all of the previous adaptations of the story to ensure his brought something new to audiences.

“I watched all the adaptations. It’s important to see what’s gone before, but that’s certainly not the focus. I wanted to make something that had more love in it. It’s part of trying to investigate other parts of being human. Rebecca has dark elements, and it has a psychological, haunting story within it, but it’s also about these two people in love. That was the main thing.”

The film itself boasts a very exciting cast, including Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Armie Hammer, Keeley Hawes and Ann Dowd.

Despite Wheatley’s assertions, comparisons to Hitchcock’s film are somewhat inevitable, but couple that wonderful cast to Wheatley’s signature style and throw in a dash of Netflix money for some stunning location work and you may just have have the kind of film that can stand apart from the shadow of Hitchcock himself. We’ll find out next month…