Lily Collins, known for her role as Emily Cooper in the Netflix series Emily in Paris, is set to portray a different iconic figure: Audrey Hepburn. The announcement, confirmed by Collins on Instagram on February 23, 2026, marks a long-awaited casting for the actress, who has frequently been compared to the legendary screen star. The film will center on the making of Hepburn’s 1961 classic, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a cinematic landmark.
The project, based on Sam Wasson’s nonfiction book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, promises to delve into the complexities surrounding the film’s production. Alena Smith, the creator of the Apple TV+ series Dickinson, is writing the screenplay. While a director has not yet been announced, the film is being developed under Collins’ production company, Case Study Films, signaling her deep involvement in bringing this story to life. This casting fulfills a wish many fans held after Rooney Mara was previously considered for the role in a separate, ultimately abandoned, Hepburn biopic.
A Decade in the Making
Collins shared her excitement on Instagram, stating, “It’s with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able share this.” She continued, expressing that she was “Honoured and ecstatic” to capture on the role. The lengthy development process underscores the careful consideration given to this project, aiming to do justice to Hepburn’s legacy and the story behind one of cinema’s most beloved films.
The Story Behind the Icon
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, originally a novella by Truman Capote published in 1958, captivated audiences with its portrayal of Holly Golightly, a Latest York socialite navigating love and identity. The film adaptation, however, took significant liberties with Capote’s original function. The movie transposed the story’s setting to 1960 and altered the character of the narrator, changing him from an unnamed gay man to a straight writer who falls for Golightly.
A Contentious Casting Process
The casting of Hepburn herself was not without its drama. Capote initially championed Marilyn Monroe for the role, actively lobbying Paramount Pictures to cast her. However, Monroe was under contract with Twentieth Century Fox at the time, and her acting coach, Paula Strasberg, reportedly advised against taking the part, stating, “Marilyn Monroe will not play a lady of the evening.” Shirley MacLaine and Kim Novak similarly turned down the role before Hepburn was ultimately cast, a decision Capote later lamented, famously calling it “the most miscast film I’ve ever seen.”
Paramount’s marketing team faced a challenge in presenting Golightly to the public, given the character’s unconventional lifestyle. Press releases emphasized Hepburn’s image of purity and elegance, attempting to distance Golightly from any association with sex work. One release stated, “Since Miss Audrey Hepburn has never played any part that has suggested she was anything but pure, polite and possibly a princess, a hard look at Miss Golightly is in order.” Another bluntly declared, “The star is Audrey Hepburn, not Tawdry Hepburn.”
Legacy and On-Set Challenges
Despite the controversies surrounding its production, Breakfast at Tiffany’s became a critical and commercial success, earning $14 million at the global box office (equivalent to approximately $152 million today) and winning two Academy Awards: for Best Original Score, composed by Henry Mancini, and Best Original Song, for “Moon River,” performed by Hepburn herself.
The upcoming film promises to reveal the full story of the movie’s creation, including a reportedly dangerous incident during the filming of the iconic opening sequence outside Tiffany & Co. On Fifth Avenue, where a crew member nearly suffered an electric shock. Casting announcements for the roles of Truman Capote and director Blake Edwards are still pending.
This isn’t the first attempt to bring Hepburn’s life to the screen. Jennifer Love Hewitt portrayed the actress in the 2000 television movie, The Audrey Hepburn Story. More recently, Rooney Mara was attached to a Hepburn biopic directed by Luca Guadagnino, but that project was canceled in 2023.
As production on the Breakfast at Tiffany’s making-of film gets underway, audiences can anticipate a nuanced exploration of a classic film’s complicated history and the enduring legacy of Audrey Hepburn. Further casting announcements and a release date are expected in the coming months.
Share your thoughts on this exciting casting news and the story behind Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the comments below.
