Checking the trades, I found an intriguing project being set up at Columbia titled A RELIABLE WIFE, an adaptation of a Robert Goolrick novel that will hit shelves on MARCH 31. While not necessarily nestled in the “horror” genre – I don’t think – it sounds like it has the potential to be a suspenseful, classy film. Yeah, we can report on the classy stuff too, you know!
According to Barnes and Noble, the book, set in 1908 Wisconsin, is about Ralph Truitt, a successful businessman, whose mysterious new bride-to-be greedily plans to slowly poison him to death and take all his money. What she has not counted on, is that Truitt — a passionate man with his own dark secrets — has plans of his own for his new wife.
I can definitely dig that. Seems like the type of atmospheric tale Hitchcock could sink his teeth into. It’s being produced by Michael De Luca, who has a spotty track record, but it does include BOOGIE NIGHTS, BLADE, MAGNOLIA and DARK CITY (all projects that he shepherded while head of New Line Cinema), so I’m hoping this falls into the “cool” category, and not the “suck” one (where THE LOVE GURU and LITTLE NICKY reside).
Obviously, the casting of a beautiful, mysterious woman in the role of the shady wife is crucial, so my mind immediately goes to Cate Blanchett. But I usually think of her for every female lead. Let’s face it, the woman can play anything. They could announce tomorrow that she’s playing Mike Tyson in a biopic, and I’d believe it…