Sierra/Affinity is headed to the European Film Market with a biopic of the late model and actress Anna Nicole Smith, according to Deadline. Earlier reports suggested that Betty Gilpin, best known for her Emmy-nominated performance in GLOW, would be playing Smith, but it has since been confirmed that she is not slated to appear in the film. Holly Hunter, however, who appeared in the second season of Succession and is a current star of NBC’s Mr. Mayor, has officially been cast as Smith’s therapist Khristine.
Smith’s story is a sensational one, beginning with her first appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine and a successful modeling career. Her second marriage, in 1994, was to 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall, who died the following year, resulting in an extended legal battle over his estate.
Smith starred in a few films, including The Hudsucker Proxy, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and Be Cool, and hosted The Anna Nicole Show from 2002 to 2004 on E! Her life came to a tragic end at the age of 39 when she was found dead following an accidental prescription drug overdose in a Florida hotel room in 2007.
Hurricanna centers on Khristine’s thirty-six-hour effort to save Smith’s life, which ends in her delivering the fatal blow. The producers explain that its focus will be the “immense hurricane-like force that was Anna Nicole Smith, and the fateful string of events that led Anna to destroy everything in her path, including herself and those closest to her.” Though Smith’s role has yet to be cast following confirmation that Gilpin is not involved, the project already has a handful of well-known figures attached behind the camera.
Francesca Gregorini, who previously directed episodes of Killing Eve and will next helm installments of Hulu’s upcoming The Dropout, is set to direct the film. Rachel and Matt Sarnoff will write the script and serve as executive producers along with Jere Hausfater.
Gregorini will produce alongside Rory Koslow from Well Told Entertainment and Cassian Elwes of Elevated Film Sales, which is co-representing domestic rights with ICM Partners.