More than six decades after Breakfast at Tiffany’s first graced the screen, Lily Collins is set to play Audrey Hepburn in a new feature chronicling the making of the 1961 classic.
Collins, 36, will also produce the project, which is based on Sam Wasson’s book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman. The screenplay is being written by Alena Smith, creator of the Apple TV+ series Dickinson. A director has not yet been announced, according to Variety.
The original Breakfast at Tiffany’s, adapted from Truman Capote’s novella, follows the enigmatic socialite Holly Golightly as she forms a bond with a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building. Directed by Blake Edwards, the film became a cultural touchstone and solidified Hepburn’s status as a style icon.
The forthcoming movie is being described as the first comprehensive account of the film’s turbulent development and production. It will explore the chaotic pre-production period, including the high-profile casting dispute. Capote had famously wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly and felt Paramount “double-crossed” him by casting Hepburn instead.
The story will also delve into behind-the-scenes drama, including a reported on-set incident in which a crew member was nearly electrocuted while filming the iconic opening sequence outside the flagship Tiffany & Co. store on Fifth Avenue.
Capote, costume designer Edith Head, and Edwards are expected to appear as characters in the film, though casting for those roles has not yet been announced.
Collins shared news of the project on Instagram, writing: “It’s with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able share this.” She added, “Honored and ecstatic don’t begin to express how I feel…”
The film is backed by Imagine Entertainment. Producers include Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Justin Wilkes, with Marc Gilbar executive producing and Joyce Choi overseeing development. Charlie McDowell and Alex Orlovsky will produce for Case Study Films alongside Scott LaStaiti. Sam Wasson and Brandon Millan will executive produce for Felix Farmer Productions, with Michael Shamberg also serving as executive producer.
Collins is currently starring in the Netflix series Emily in Paris, recently renewed for a sixth season. Her previous film credits include Rules Don’t Apply and David Fincher’s Mank.
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