Ripley wonders
Tom Ripley was first introduced in Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 psychological thriller, The Talented Mr. Ripley — and was front-and-centre of four more books, the most recent of which hit shelves in 1991.
The first three of the books — The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground and Ripley’s Game — have also seen the career criminal and con artist make the move from the page to the screen, with a number of famous faces having taken on the role throughout the years.
Alain Delon was the first to take on the role of Ripley on the silver screen in the film Purple Noon, or Plein Soleil. The film — which was based on the Talented Mr. Ripley — also starred Marie Laforet, Maurice Ronet, Elvire Popesco and Erno Crisa.
Dennis Hopper was the next to play the career criminal in 1977’s The American Friend. The cast also included Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer, Gérard Blain and Nicholas Ray — and was the first adaptation of Ripley’s Game. The film also brought in elements of the book, Ripley Under Ground.
In 1999, Matt Damon stepped into the role of
Ripley for The Talented Mr. Ripley. The cast also included Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The film followed Ripley as he gets sent from New York to Italy, all in an effort to convince Dickie Greenleaf — a rich, spoiled playboy — to head home. But he’s forced to go to extreme measures when failing in his task.
The Talented Mr. Ripley scooped up five Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor, and six nominations at the Golden Globes.
John Malkovich took on Tom Ripley in 2002 for another adaptation of Ripely’s Game, this time alongside Dougray Scott and Ray Winstone.
Ripley’s Game sees the swindler convince an art framer in need of money to become a hitman for a large sum — and later blackmail him into committing another murder. It isn’t long, however, before things begin to spiral out of control.
And Barry Pepper played the anti-hero in the 2005 film, Ripley Under Ground. The thriller also featured Willem Dafoe, Alan Cumming and Tom Wilkinson in supporting roles.
The film follows Ripley who, after death of a famous artist pal, decides with some accomplices that they should hide the body — and have another artist produce similar work, which they’re going to pass off as his.
And while that was the last of the big screen adaptations, the thrillers have also been adapted for the radio and telly throughout the years — including the anthology series, Studio One, and a BBC Radio 4 adaptation in 2009 with Ian Hart playing the role.
The latest Ripley adaptation was first rumoured in 2015. It was announced the following year that Luther creator Neil Cross would write the series.
In 2019, it was ordered to series at Showtime. Andrew Scott was announced to be stepping into the role of Ripley, with writer-director Steven Zaillian taking over from Cross.
Last year, it was confirmed it would be heading to Netflix.
Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn star alongside Scott, playing Marge Sherwood and Dickie Greenleaf respectively.