Lily Collins is set to play the iconic Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn in a new biopic, with the casting sparking fury from fans of one particular singer, Daily Mail reports.
The Emily In Paris star is set to play the Hollywood icon in a film about the making of her famous 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany’s, according to the report by Daily Mail.
The film is based on Sam Wasson’s book Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, which is credited as the first complete account of the making of one of Audrey’s most famous films.
And while Lily Collins certainly bears a likeness to the elegant British star, Ariana Grande’s fans have shared their upset, after claiming the singer had shared hopes of playing her sometime in the future.
In a string of tweets on X, fans of the Wicked star also complained that Ariana had even emulated Audrey’s iconic style on the red carpet.
Lily Collins herself announced her casting on Instagram, gushing she’d spent a decade hoping she could play Audrey in a film.
She wrote: ‘It’s with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able share this. Honored and ecstatic don’t begin to express how I feel…’
Audrey was considered one of the greatest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, winning an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday, and going on to star in films Funny Face, Sabrina and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.
She played the character Holly Golightly, a young New York socialite who becomes interested in a young man new to her apartment building, only for her past to threaten to come between the two.
The film landed Audrey a nomination for Best Actress at the 1962 Oscars, and was nominated for five awards in total.
Lily Collins has previously paid homage to Audrey with looks in her Netflix series Emily In Paris, where the titular heroine sports a string of outfits that are akin to the actress’ famous style.
Following news of the casting, many of Ariana’s fans expressed their upset that she hadn’t landed the role.
They wrote on X: ‘ARIANA GRANDE WAS THERE FOR THIS ROLE I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE CHOICE;
‘Ariana Grande right now after changing her look and personality trying to get cast as Audrey; Someone check on Ari…;
‘WTF!!! Ariana was BORN to play Audrey!!!;
‘BUT ARIANA HAVE THE FACE AND SHE’S SO TALENTED FOR PLAY LEGEND AUDREY HEPBURN;
‘They’re dead wrong for not casting Ariana knowing she’s literally transformed her whole image after Audrey.’
Ariana earned critical praise for her turn as Glinda in Wicked, and Wicked: For Good, opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
The singer will next star in the sequel Focker-In-Law, the fourth film in the famous franchise, and will be kick off her Eternal Sunshine in June.
Meanwhile season five of Lily’s Emily In Paris was released on Netflix in December, and saw Emily split her time between her beloved Paris and Rome as she juggles a new relationship and the responsibility of opening Agence Grateau’s office in the Italian city.
The show has already been renewed for a sixth season, and its expected to be released later this year.