Margot Robbie isn’t the only actress playing Sharon Tate in a movie this year. Upon the 50th anniversary of her death in the midst of the Manson Family murders, we just got our first look at Hilary Duff as Tate in the new horror film “The Haunting of Sharon Tate.”
In the first trailer for the film directed by Daniel Farrands, Duff’s Tate is pregnant with director Roman Polanski’s child and awaiting his return from Europe when the 26-year-old Hollywood actress becomes plagued by visions of her own imminent death.
“This person, these people, they’re a threat to my safety and safety of my baby,” Duff says in the trailer before locking the windows and witnessing the words “Helter Skelter” written in blood on her walls.
Sadly, it doesn’t end well for her. Tate and four others were murdered in her home by members of the Manson Family on Aug. 6, 1969.
Duff’s casting in “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” has been met by disapproval by Tate’s sister. Debra Tate said back in Feb. 2018 that the movie was “classless,” “exploitative” and a “total fabrication.”
“It doesn’t matter who it is acting in it — it’s just tasteless,” Tate told People. “It’s classless how everyone is rushing to release something for the 50th anniversary of this horrific event.”
Debra Tate had expressed approval over another biopic about Tate’s life in which Kate Bosworth was set to star, and she was given the opportunity to review Quentin Tarantino’s script for his upcoming “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” starring Robbie as Tate. But she was less kind about Duff’s film.
“I know for a fact she did not have a premonition — awake or in a dream — that she and Jay would have their throat cut,” Tate said. “I checked with all of her living friends. None of her friends had any knowledge of this. Tacky, tacky, tacky.”
Jonathan Bennett and Lydia Hearst also star in the film. “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” will be available in theaters and on demand on April 5. Watch the first trailer above.