“I always thought it would be better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody;” famous words to live—and kill—by, according to the talented Tom Ripley, one of cinema’s (and the literary world’s) most complicated and fascinating gay villains.
The character was first introduced to the world in the 1955 thriller novel The Talented Mr. Ripley from esteemed author Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers On A Train and The Price Of Salt, which the movie Carol was based on), and then would appear again in multiple novels up through 1991’s Ripley Under Water.
Then, a whole new audience met Ripley in Anthony Minghella’s acclaimed 1999 film of the same name, with Matt Damon in the titular role, conning his was into the life of spoiled heir Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) with more than a little homoerotic tension—and deadly consequences.
Now, the infamous character returns to the screen anew—with a throwback black-and-white look—in Netflix’s gorgeous miniseries, Ripley, written and directed by Steven Zaillian (HBO’s The Night Of).
Image Credit: ‘Ripley,’ Netflix
This time around, he’s played by the great Andrew Scott, the out actor fresh off of his career best work in in the romantic ghost story All Of Us Strangers (which was shamefully snubbed by the Oscars).
Pegged more as an adaptation of Highsmith’s novel than a remake of the ’99 film, Ripley opens on our antihero as a grifter doing what he can to survive in 1960s New York City. When he meets wealthy shipping magnate Mr. Greenleaf, he cons himself into an opportunity: Travel to Italy to convince the man’s spoiled son, Dickie (Lovesick and Emma‘s Johnny Flynn), to return home and work for the family company.
But, with Ripley, it’s not so simple. In Dickie, he sees everything he wants to be—and wants. And so begins a “complex life of deceit, fraud and murder.” The only thing standing in his was may be Dickie’s friend, Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning, in the role perviously played by Gwyneth Paltrow), who gets caught in the middle of the men’s jealousy-fueled friendship.
Also among the cast are Maurizio Lombardi, Margherita Buy, Eliot Sumner (who’s father is Sting!), and John Malkovich—who notably has also played Tom Ripley before, in the 2002 film adaptation of Ripley’s Game.
Image Credit: ‘Ripley,’ Netflix
Of course, we’re most excited to tune in to see Scott sink his teeth into the iconic role. Though he’s been blowing audiences away on stage and screen for years, All Of Us Strangers was his (long overdue) first proper leading film role, and this juicy miniseries feels like the perfect follow up.
Not to mention, while we’ll never forget Matt Damon in Ripley’s lime green swimwear, we’re eager to see what a gay actor will do with the part, hopefully digging deeper into the character’s queerness and the way it colors his interactions with Dickie and the way he moves through the world.
All eight episodes of Ripley are slated to hit Netflix on April 4. You can watch the beautiful full-length trailer for the series below:
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