Lily Collins is bringing a long-brewing project to fruition. The Emily in Paris star is set to portray screen icon Audrey Hepburn in a film telling the story behind the making of the 1961 romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The new movie is based on Sam Wasson’s New York Times best-selling book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, with a screenplay written by Alena Smith, the creator of the Hailee Steinfield-led Apple series Dickinson. Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. is billed as a complete account of the making of the classic film. The book delves into the story of the movie’s production, including the roles of Breakfast at Tiffany’s writer Truman Capote, costumer Edith Head, director Blake Edwards, and of course Hepburn.
The late Oscar winner, who died at 63 in 1993, famously costarred with George Peppard in the film, which follows Holly Golightly (Hepburn) as she falls in love with Paul Varjak (Peppard) after he moves into the same New York City apartment building she lives in. The movie, which also starred Mickey Rooney, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen and Martin Balsam, won two Academy Awards in 1962.
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Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. reveals a chaotic insight into the film’s making, chronicling everything from the dramatic preproduction — during which Capote allegedly wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly and felt that studio Paramount “double-crossed” him by casting Hepburn — to the on-set drama and subsequent cultural impact.
In addition to cementing Hepburn as a global fashion plate and cultural icon, Breakfast at Tiffany’s become a cinematic staple (it entered the U.S. National Film Registry in 2012).
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Collins, who has often shared her admiration for Hepburn with fans and leaned into her striking resemblance to the late star in past photo shoots, celebrate the news on social media Monday. She posted a photo of Hepburn to Instagram and revealed that she had been working on the project for nearly a decade.
“It’s with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able share this,” Collins wrote. “Honored and ecstatic don’t begin to express how I feel…”
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Collins is developing the project under her Case Study Films production company alongside Imagine Entertainment and producer Scott LaStaiti. Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Justin Wilkes will produce the film for Imagine, with Marc Gilbar serving as executive producer and Joyce Choi overseeing development. Collins, Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky will produce for Case Study Films alongside LaStaiti.
Sam Wasson and Brandon Millan will executive-produce for Felix Farmer Productions, with Michael Shamberg also exec-producing.