Zaillian will reportedly use Highsmith’s five novels about the sociopath anti-hero Tom Ripley, namely The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game, The Boy Who followed Ripley and Ripley Underwater, to script his progression from low-level con artist to full fledged serial killer.
This will be the latest stab at adapting Highsmith’s novels, which have previously hit the screen as Purple Noon (1960), starring Alain Delon, The American Friend (1977), starring Dennis Hopper, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), starring Matt Damon, Ripley’s Game (2002), starring John Malkovich, and Ripley Under Ground (2005), starring Barry Pepper.
“With Andrew Scott, whose charisma knows no bounds, inhabiting the iconic lead role, we feel confident that this will be a special one.”
He also wrote and directed the films All the King’s Men, A Civil Action and Searching for Bobby Fischer.