Orphan's original actress Isabelle Fuhrman will officially return for the prequel Esther. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Orphan was released in 2009 and was seen by many as a decent entry to the psychological thriller genre. It centered on couple Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John Coleman (Peter Sarsgaard) after the stillborn birth of their third child. To cope, Kate and John end up adopting a 9-year-old Russian orphan named Esther (Fuhrman). At first, they make for a happy family, but things quickly go awry when Esther shows her true deranged self. In truth, Esther is a 33-year-old woman with a hormonal disorder that stunts her growth and gives her the appearance of a young girl.
While receiving mixed reviews, Orphan was a financial success at the time of its release. As a result, an Orphan prequel film was officially greenlit earlier this year. This time, the film will be directed by William Brent Bell (The Boy) with David Coggeshall penning the script. Esther will show the titular character's origins, back when she first broke out of a Russian psychiatric facility and was named Lena Klammer. No release date has been given just yet.
According to Variety, Fuhrman is officially set to return for Esther. It's said she will once again play the murderous orphan, and she'll also serve as an associate producer. No further plot details were given, nor were there additional casting announcements. Esther will reportedly being production very soon.
The news of Fuhrman's return is rather interesting. On one hand, it's no surprise that she would be chosen to play Esther once more, considering how her performance in Orphan was widely praised and seen as her breakout role. Casting someone else would lead to inevitable comparisons and, potentially, disappointment among fans. However, it's hard to deny that Fuhrman has grown up, something Esther cannot do. That could make for a strange viewing experience, particularly since Esther is a prequel set years before the original film.
Perhaps Coggeshall's script will accommodate for any potential appearance discrepancies, or it could even be that Fuhrman's Esther is isn't the only version of the character within the film. At this point, it's hard to say for sure, but fans will surely speculate about what's the truth. Esther is still early on in its development, but with production aiming to begin soon, more information could be revealed in the coming months. Regardless, it'll be exciting to have Fuhrman back in the role she originated.
Source: Variety
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