Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart are in negotiations to star in an untitled indie movie about the infamous Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of killing her parents with an ax in New England in the 1890s, TheWrap has learned.
Pieter Van Hees (“Waste Land”) will direct from a script by Bryan Kass. Naomi Despres (“Kill the Messenger”) is producing the film, which The Solution will begin shopping at the upcoming AFM. WME is handling domestic sales.
Sevigny, who will play Borden, was previously attached to play the character in an HBO miniseries from producer Tom Hanks that never came together.
Stewart will play the Borden’s live-in maid Bridget Sullivan, the only person who was home when the axe murders were committed. One theory exists that Borden and Sullivan were secret lovers, which of course was very taboo in the 1890s.
The film will explore the events that led up to that fateful evening. Borden was tried but not convicted since men didn’t believe a woman capable of such a violent act back in the day, though she spent the rest of her life as a local recluse.
The legend of Lizzie Borden was just told in a recent Lifetime TV movie starring Christina Ricci.
Stewart recently starred in “Still Alice” and “American Ultra,” and will soon be seen in Drake Doremus‘ romantic sci-fi movie “Equals.” She just wrapped “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” for director Ang Lee as well as Woody Allen‘s next film.
Sevigny won a Golden Glove for her work on HBO’s “Big Love” and can currently be seen on FX’s “American Horror Story: Hotel.”
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news.