Have you been following the developing saga of Linda Lovelace biopic **Inferno, with its will-she-won’t-she shenanigans as chosen star Lindsay Lohan struggled with her addictions and spent time in rehab, screwing up the shooting schedule? The story has taken a fresh twist, with director Matthew Wilder finally confirming that Lohan is out and Malin Akerman is taking the lead role.
Wilder’s script – which was acclaimed enough to land on 2008’s version of the Black List, but which has also generated plenty of controversy for its unflinching treatment of the abuse Lovelace both put herself through and fell victim to – is based on the late porn star’s autobiography Ordeal, written with Mike McGrady.
Though the director and his production team had tried to keep Lohan involved, the stop-start nature of her availability eventually became too much, and according to which story you believe, she either quit, was fired or left after a mutual decision to part ways.
Now Akerman will get her shot at what will likely prove to be the darkest role she’s ever tackled, especially since she’s been best known for rom-com sexpots. But she showed some more range as Laurie Jupiter in Watchmen, and she has some other dramatic work on the horizon. And if it works, Inferno will raise her profile even further.
With a lead once more in place, Wilder plans to kick off shooting the film in February.