Helen Mirren turns crime novelist: the new project that’s got us excited

Dame Helen Mirren has a brand new project on the horizon which we're SO excited about - and it's all to do with thrilling crime books.

For her latest role, she will be channelling her inner crime novelist by portraying real life author Patricia Highsmith in upcoming film, Switzerland. While Dame Helen will be playing the real American novelist, the plot is fiction - based on a play of the same name by Joanna Murray-Smith.

Author Patricia Highsmith, who Dame Helen will be portraying in her latest film.

The story follows Patricia (played by Dame Helen) who has retired to Switzerland when a young literary agent named Edward arrives, wanting to convince her to write one last thriller. As they collaborate on the new plot, their world and the storyline of the book begin to crossover, according to Variety.

Also confirmed to be joining the cast so far are Oppenheimer's Alden Ehrenreich (who will play literary agent Edward) and Olivia Cooke, from House of the Dragon, although her exact role in the production is yet to be revealed.

The new movie will be directed by dutch director and photographer Anton Corbijn, the man behind thrillers including A Most Wanted Man and The American, which starred George Clooney.

Dame Helen Mirren in Golda.

Of course, this isn't Dame Helen Mirren's first time playing a real person. In fact, she is no stranger to biopics, having notably portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's The Queen in 2006 as well as, more recently, transforming into Golda Meir for Golda in 2023.

There is no release official release date for Switzerland yet, although shooting is reportedly already underway in Rome.