Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny to star in new Lizzie Borden biopic

It looks as if both Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny are going to help tell the story of Lizzie Borden on the big-screen, in a biopic helmed by Flemish director Pieter Van Hees (Dirty Mind, Waste Land). Kill The Messenger's Naomi Despres will produce the project, while Bryce Kass is set to write the script.

Sevigny will star as Borden, the woman who was tried and eventually acquitted for the murder of her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. Because of the severity and unexplained nature of the incident, it quickly became known as the most infamous double murder of the 19th century and one that is still discussed today. After Borden was released, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts didn't charge anyone else for the murder of Abby and Andrew Borden and the case was never solved, adding even more intrigue about what happened and causing speculation as to who killed them.

Whilst her involvement is not confirmed like Sevigny's, Stewart is said to be in negotiations to play the Bordens' live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan. Sullivan testified at Borden's trial and was allegedly in the house when the murders took place. Her recollection of events contributed significantly towards Borden being cleared, but many reports have told that on her deathbed in 1948, she admitted to her sister that she manipulated her testimony specifically to help Borden. This, however, has never been proven.

Hees' adaptation of the story won't be the first time that Borden's life has been portrayed on-screen. Christina Ricci starred in the TV movie The Lizzie Borden Chronicles in 2014. This new film will reportedly explore the events leading up to the murders as well as that specific day, and the trial that followed.

Currently, Sevigny can be seen in Fox's spooky series American Horror Story: Hotel. Stewart who most recently starred in futuristic love story Equals, opposite Nicholas Hoult will next be seen in an untitled Coco Chanel project, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at her career in fashion. The film will be directed by designer Karl Lagerfeld.

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