Jessica Biel To Play Vera Miles In Sacha Gervasi's 'Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho'

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by Simon Dang
March 21, 2012 8:24 AM
4 Comments

While her better half has more or less upstaged her in recent times, Jessica Biel looks to be going through a bit of renaissance this year featuring in Len Wiseman's "Total Recall" remake as well as Pascal Laugier's "The Tall Man." Now there's a high-profile project to add to that list with the actress joining 'Story Of Anvil!' director Sacha Gervasi's "Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho."

Biel will play "Psycho" actress Vera Miles who portrayed Lila, the sister of protagonist Marion Crane who teams with P.I. Milton Arbogast to uncover Marion's whereabouts. Miles also starred in Richard Franklin's "Psycho" sequel, Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man" and was set to star in "Vertigo" before a falling out with the British helmer over her pregnancy ruled her out of the film. Kim Novak, of course, took over the career-defining role.

Adapted for the screen by John McLaughlin ("Black Swan") from Stephen Rebello's book, the story will follow the tumultuous production of the iconic film which only happened because Hitchcock was forced to abandon plans to helm "No Bail For The Judge" as a result of star Audrey Hepburn's pregnancy. Unenthused by "Psycho," Paramount gave Hitchcock a paltry budget, forcing him to back the movie through his own production shingle, build his own sets and use crew from his TV show "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

Scarlett Johansson will star opposite Biel as the film's protagonist Janet Leigh with James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins, Helen Mirren as Alma Reville and Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock himself. Lensing is set to begin this April.This, of course, follows hot on the heels of our first look at rival Hitchcock-themed movie, "The Girl" yesterday. [Deadline]

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More: Jessica Biel, Sacha Gervasi, Hitchcock

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April | March 21, 2012 9:34 PMReply

this sounds horrible. Biel is a horribly dull actress. Please find someone else for that role!!!! Please!!! I agree with all the previous posters. This sounds so promising and than you throw in Birl and blah lost interest. Also The Girl with Sienna, seriously they couldn't find an unknown actress to play Tippi. Sienna is another dull actress.
Kendal | March 21, 2012 8:22 PMReply

I'm just here to third all the "hot mess" comments- why would you cast Jessica Biel in anything where she actually has to flex her nonexistent acting muscle?
cnc16 | March 21, 2012 5:00 PMReply

Oh dear! This is gonna be a hot mess. I thought Sienna Miller in "The Girl" would be terrible.
Agra | March 21, 2012 3:08 PMReply

Wow, this movie is going to be a mess. Biel is a terrible actress with NO personality. Dull as shit. Johannsson has never impressed. Poor Perkins, Hopkins, and Mirren- they really deserve better.