Anton Corbijn’s ‘Switzerland’ Adds Olivia Cooke & Alden Ehrenreich to Star Opposite Helen Mirren
House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke and Oppenheimer breakout Alden Ehrenreich have joined Helen Mirren in Anton Corbijn’s long-gestating thriller Switzerland, a fictionalized portrait of Talented Mr. Ripley author Patricia Highsmith. Production is now underway in Rome, with filming set to move to Italy’s Alpine region, Switzerland, and London through February.
Mirren, fresh off her 1923 Emmy nod, anchors the project as Highsmith, the reclusive crime novelist who retreated to the Swiss Alps in 1995 with only her cats for company. Ehrenreich plays Edward, a tenacious literary agent dispatched by Highsmith’s New York publisher to coax her into writing one final Ripley novel—a mission that spirals into darker territory. Cooke’s role remains under wraps, but insiders hint her character amplifies the story’s psychological tension.
Adapted by Joanna Murray-Smith from her own play, Switzerland marks Corbijn’s first feature since 2015’s James Dean biopic Life. The Dutch director, known for his stark visual style in films like Control (2007), has spent years developing the project, originally eyeing a 2023 shoot before delays pushed it to 2024. “This isn’t a straight biopic,” a source close to the production notes. “It’s a cat-and-mouse game between Highsmith and this agent, blurring the lines between her reality and the twisted plots she’s famous for.”
The film’s ensemble leans into prestige: Mirren, a Highsmith devotee, immersed herself in the author’s journals to capture her acerbic wit and paranoia. Ehrenreich, riding high on Oppenheimer’s awards momentum, brings edge to Edward, while Cooke—fresh from House of the Dragon’s sophomore season—adds generational star power.
Financed by Head Gear and BondIt Media Capital, Switzerland unites producers across three continents, including Gabrielle Tana (The Dig), LD Entertainment’s Mickey Liddell (The Grey), and Italy’s Lucky Red. FilmNation handles international sales, with buyers already circling at EFM.
Corbijn’s return to features could revive his reputation as a director who melds arthouse grit with mainstream appeal. Highsmith’s legacy, meanwhile, remains red-hot: Andrew Scott stars in Netflix’s Ripley series this April, while Showtime’s The Talented Mr. Ripley prequel Tom is in development. For Mirren, the role is a full-circle moment—she voiced Highsmith in a 2022 documentary but now steps into her shoes during the author’s most enigmatic chapter.
FAQs:
- What is Anton Corbijn’s Switzerland about?
The thriller fictionalizes Patricia Highsmith’s later years, as a literary agent pressures her to write another Ripley novel amid sinister motives. - Who plays Patricia Highsmith in the film?
Helen Mirren stars as the reclusive author, with Alden Ehrenreich as the agent and Olivia Cooke in an undisclosed role. - When did filming for Switzerland begin?
Production started in Rome in January 2024, moving to the Swiss Alps, Italy, and London through February. - How does this relate to Corbijn’s previous work?
*Corbijn last directed 2015’s *Life*, a biopic about James Dean, and is known for his moody aesthetic in *Control* (2007).* - Will Switzerland adapt Highsmith’s novels?
No—it’s based on Joanna Murray-Smith’s play, blending biographical elements with fictional suspense.
