Alden Ehrenreich Brings a New Ripley Story to the Big Screen
WHO:
Coming Soon - The film *A Talent for Murder* stars Alden Ehrenreich, Helen Mirren and Olivia Cooke.
Coming Soon - Anton Corbijn directed *A Talent for Murder*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich plays a junior editor sent by his publishing house to persuade crime novelist Patricia Highsmith to write another novel in the *Ripley* series; he also portrays fictional con artist Tom Ripley.
The Hollywood Reporter - Mirren portrays Highsmith, described by the article as the author of *The Talented Mr. Ripley*.
Coming Soon - Corbijn discussed the film’s title change, format and his favorite *Ripley* adaptation in an interview with ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich said he watched Alain Delon in *Purple Noon*, avoided Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Ripley, and viewed Matt Damon’s version as more dimensional and empathetic. He said Delon’s portrayal was similar to his version and was Highsmith’s favorite.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich described Mirren as dignified, irreverent and mischievous, and recalled her saying, “Oh, I love bats,” when a bat was trapped in a courtyard.
WHAT:
Coming Soon - *A Talent for Murder* is a psychological thriller about a young man whose encounter with a celebrated crime novelist makes him confront his darker impulses.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film alternates between conversations at Highsmith’s secluded Swiss home and reenactments of the *Ripley* story the characters are developing.
The Hollywood Reporter - The project was adapted from a play. It collapsed before production because of financing and scheduling issues, then came together again after more than a year.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich said that, after the project resumed, the cast had one day to reconstruct the blocking because “no one took notes.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich said one scene with Mirren was 25 pages long and that 90 percent of their work together took place in one room of Highsmith’s house.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - Highsmith’s home in the story is in Switzerland; the film also features a publishing-house editor sent from New York, as quoted in Coming Soon’s interview excerpt.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film was scheduled to open the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich said he avoided watching Andrew Scott’s portrayal because he admired Scott as an actor and did not want that performance in his head.
HOW:
Coming Soon - The story describes a young man traveling from New York to Switzerland to persuade Highsmith to write another novel in the series.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ehrenreich and Mirren rehearsed for a week in an Los Angeles hotel room before the original production plan fell apart.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:17 UTC)
Alden Ehrenreich and Helen Mirren star in *A Talent for Murder*, a psychological thriller directed by Anton Corbijn. Ehrenreich plays a junior editor sent from New York to Switzerland to persuade crime novelist Patricia Highsmith, portrayed by Mirren, to write another book in her *Ripley* series. He also plays Tom Ripley, as the film shifts between conversations at Highsmith’s secluded home and reenactments of the story taking shape. Adapted from a play, the project stalled over financing and scheduling before coming together again more than a year later. Ehrenreich and Mirren had rehearsed for a week before the production first fell apart, then had only a day to rebuild the scenes after it resumed. Ehrenreich said he watched Alain Delon’s *Purple Noon* but avoided Andrew Scott’s Ripley performance. The film was scheduled to open the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.