Dakota Fanning joins Talented Mr. Ripley series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Tom Ripley is a dapper psychopath who uses his wit and charm to con his way into pretty much anything or anyone, and he isn't above murdering the odd person to achieve what he desires. It was announced in 2019 that the character would be headed to the small-screen as Showtime gave an eight-episode order to a Ripley series to be developed by Steven Zaillian (The Night Of) based upon the best-selling series of novels by Patrica Highsmith

Andrew Scott (Fleabag) is slated to play the title role in Ripley and it's now been announced that Dakota Fanning (The Alienist) has joined the cast as well. Fanning will play Marge Sherwood, "an American living in Italy who suspects darker motives underlie the affability of Tom Ripley." Executive vice-president of Scripted Programming at Showtime Amy Israel said, "Dakota Fanning is the perfect choice to play the deliciously complicated Marge opposite Andrew Scott’s Tom Ripley. She’s an actor that brings smarts and vulnerability to every part, with so much bubbling beneath the surface. We can’t wait to see her sink her teeth into this role in Steve Zallian’s Ripley." The series will follow Tom Ripley as a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York when he's hired by a wealthy man to try to convince his vagabond son, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), to return home. Dickie, who is living a comfortable, trust-funded ex-pat life in Italy, isn't eager to return, but Ripley's acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud, and murder.

The series will use Patricia Highsmith's novels, consisting of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water, as a road map to showcase Ripley's transformation from con artist to serial killer. Production on Ripley is expected to kick off later this year in Italy. Tom Ripley has been portrayed on the big-screen several times over the decades, with Alain Delon playing the role in Purple Noon back in 1960, Dennis Hopper in 1977's The American Friend, Matt Damon in 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley, John Malkovich in 2002's Ripley's Game, and by Barry Pepper in 2005's Ripley Under Ground.