Netflix announced it will be releasing a brand-new adaptation of Rebecca this week, starring Armie Hammer and Lily James as Maxim and Mrs. de Winter. The highly anticipated film, directed by Ben Wheatley, is set to release on the streaming service October 21, just in time for a Halloween thriller movie marathon.
Whether you prefer the 1938 novel by Dame Daphne du Maurier or the Academy Award–winning 1940 film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock, the trailer promises to be a visually stunning retelling of the psychological thriller. This latest adaptation was filmed in two stunning locations: Hartland Quay in Devon and Hatfield House at Cranborne Manor in Dorset.
The first locale is an unspoiled stretch of Atlantic shoreline where Maxim de Winter and an unnamed young woman fall in love at the start of the film. Dramatic, rocky cliffs set along pristine seashore allude that a life with Maxim could be much more tumultuous than it may seem on the surface. But what we are really excited for is the new Manderley mansion.
Hatfield House resides on the historic Cranborne Manor estate, which was originally built in the 13th century as a hunting lodge for King John. The breathtaking Jacobean house was completed in 1611, serving as a primary residence for Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury, whose father was a minister to Queen Elizabeth I. The deer park surrounding the home and an older building on the property had once been owned by Elizabeth's father, King Henry VIII, and it was there, in 1558, that Elizabeth learned of her ascension to the throne.
Today, Hatfield House is the home of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury, who are avid patrons of the arts and have allowed the home, the Tudor Old Palace (Queen Elizabeth I's childhood home), and the property's 42-acre gardens to serve as filming locations for some of the biggest movies, television shows, and music videos of our day.
Hatfield House has been featured in dozens of movies, from Shakespeare in Love, The King's Speech, and The Favourite to the Christian Bale–era Batman, and the Harry Potter and, most recently, Sherlock Holmes franchises. The home has also been featured in shows like The Crown and Masterchef USA and was most recently used as the set for the Jonas Brothers' music video for "Sucker."
We can't wait to see how the property will come to life as Manderley, adding yet another impressive role to its repertoire. Dame du Maurier's editor notably said that Manderley "is as much an atmosphere as a tangible erection of stones and mortar," and we're sure Hatfield House is up to the challenge.
Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.
