The real moment an unsuspecting woman chose a handsome bachelor on a US dating show who was secretly in the middle of a serial killing spree is to be turned into a movie, directed by actress in her filmmaking debut.
The Dating Game takes its name from the TV show of the same name, which aired on American television from 1965 and throughout the intervening decades via syndication and in various iterations until 1999.
It had a short-lived revival last year, hosted by Zooey Deschanel and Michael Bolton.
The film will follow Sheryl Bradshaw, also played by Kendrick, who was a bachelorette on the show in 1978, where she picked Rodney Alcala for a date.
Alcala, who died aged 77 in July 2021, was later revealed to be a serial killer and arrested in July 1979.
He was subsequently convicted of seven murders, being sentenced to death for five killings in California between 1977 and 1979, before receiving an additional 25 years after pleading guilty to two New York murders in 1971 and 1977.
His confirmed victims were six women and one 12-year-old girl, although authorities believe the real number could be much higher.
Luckily, Bradshaw declined the date with Alcala, later saying she found him ‘creepy’.
Alcala died of natural causes on death row last year.
‘I’ve loved this script from the moment I read it,’ Kendrick said in a statement as the news was announced. ‘And while I was obviously thrilled to be playing the character of Sheryl, I felt so connected to the story, the tone, and the themes around gender and intimacy, that when the opportunity came up to direct the film, I jumped at it. It feels meant to be.’
‘The support I’ve received already from Stuart Ford and everyone at AGC, Vertigo, and BoulderLight has been inspiring and empowering,’ she added.
The actress, who split from , is best known for her parts in the Twilight saga, Pitch Perfect franchise and Up in the Air opposite George Clooney, for which she received a best supporting actress nomination.
