EXCLUSIVE : Star of the series «"Pretty Little Liars"» Sasha Pieterse will star in a psychological thriller. «"Rosemary"» , which will tell the tragic story of Rosemary Kennedy "from her point of view.".
Kennedy was the sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. and Ted Kennedy. She suffered developmental delays as a child, and reportedly developed behavioral problems as a young adult. In response, family patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. arranged for her to undergo a lobotomy at age 23, which left her permanently incapacitated. She spent most of the rest of her life in care at St. Coletta's, a Wisconsin institution, and was isolated from her family and siblings for extended periods. Kennedy died of natural causes in 2005 at the age of 86.
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Mike Medavoy, a Hollywood veteran known for such films as «"Black swan"» и «Shutter Island» , is helping promote the project, which will be written and directed by Corey Todd Hughes and Adrian Speckert, who wrote the screenplays for the films "« Under fire"» starring Dylan Sprouse and «Foster» with Ron Perlman.
Emanuele Moretti ( Bucking Fastard ) and The Motus Studios will produce alongside Nick Medavoy ( The Image of You ) and Kaan Karahan ( Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall ); Hughes, Speckert, and Mike Medavoy will serve as executive producers. Motus Studios will handle international sales.
According to the creators, this action-packed thriller "dramatizes Rosemary Kennedy's struggle with mental health issues, her father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.'s devastating decision to lobotomize her at age 23, and the long-term consequences of that choice.".
The film is based on the article "Rosemary Kennedy, John Kennedy's sister, who was lobotomized and locked up in a mental hospital.", published on the website All That's Interesting .
«"This film takes a story that has long been overlooked and places Rosemary at the center of the narrative, not as a footnote to a political dynasty, but as a young woman with her own hopes, fears, and a voice that has never truly been heard," said Mike Medavoy.
Peters commented on her role: "Rosemary's story was told in fragments. What attracted me to this project was how it explores her as a person, not as a symbol, but as a full-fledged human being with her own dreams and vulnerabilities.".
Hughes and Speckert added, "This isn't just a historical biopic. It's a psychological journey, told through Rosemary's eyes, that challenges viewers to consider how we define agency, dignity, and identity.".
Todd Hughes and Speckert are separately collaborating with Peters on a film adaptation of the upcoming urban fantasy book series. «Infernal Affairs» popular American writer Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Peters is best known for her role as Alison DiLaurentis on the Freeform series «"Pretty Little Liars"» and its spin-off «Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists» . Former participant of the show «Dancing with the Stars» also starred in the 2024 film «"Image of You"» starring Parker Young and Mira Sorvino, with Karahan serving as executive producer and Nick Medavoy as associate producer.
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