Written by: Sam Santiago
Hollywood is once again digging into the early ‘90s thriller vault, and this time it’s dusting off one of the decade’s most unhinged roommate stories. According to Deadline, Jenna Ortega and Taylor Russell are set to star in "Single Female", a remake of the 1992 cult thriller "Single White Female".
The screenplay will be written by Sarah DeLappe, best known for penning the sharp Gen Z horror satire "Bodies Bodies Bodies". You know the one. It had Pete David in it, adding some flair when he was dating Kim Kardashian, so everyone was all over it. The project is being developed by Sony Pictures through its 3000 Pictures label, with veteran producer Stacey Sher attached alongside Ortega and Russell.
The original "Single White Female", directed by Barbet Schroeder and written by Don Roos, starred Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The story follows a woman who takes out a roommate ad after a breakup, only to discover the new tenant answering the ad may have far more in mind than splitting rent. Identity theft, obsessive mimicry, and a whole lot of psychological unraveling followed. This flick was wild, and we loved it. We wonder how Ortega will do in this role...or if she will be the antagonist or protagonist?
(Taylor Russell in ‘Bones and All’)
The film was adapted from SWF Seeks Same by crime writer John Lutz, and it became a surprise hit when it arrived in theaters in 1992. The movie pulled in nearly $50 million domestically and cemented itself as one of the era’s most memorable psychological thrillers.
Before this new version arrives, it’s worth revisiting the film that made suspicious roommate behavior a cinematic art form.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "SINGLE WHITE FEMALE" (1992) BELOW
Plot details for Single Female are still under wraps, but the new version will likely modernize the premise for a world where roommate searches happen through apps instead of classified ads. Either way, the basic nightmare scenario remains the same: inviting a stranger into your home and slowly realizing they might be trying to become you.
We'll keep ya posted as usual with any news as we get it.