Release Date Announced for Rosemary’s Baby Prequel on Streaming Platform

“Apartment 7A,” directed by Natalie Erika James, serves as a prequel to the iconic 1968 horror movie “Rosemary’s Baby.” Vanity Fair recently unveiled the film’s first look. Releasing on Paramount+, this film marks the fourth installment in the franchise. It delves into Terry Gionoffrio’s (played by Julia Garner) story, narrating events in the apartment building before the arrival of Rosemary and her baby.

Set in the backdrop of 1965 New York, the movie meticulously recreates the era’s costume design and architecture. The plot follows Terry, a struggling dancer who encounters a career-ending injury. Her life takes a sinister twist when she meets a peculiar older couple, her neighbors at the Bramford apartment building.

Minni Castavet (Dianne Wiest) and Roman Castavet (Kevin McNally), her neighbors, are secret devil worshippers. They entice Terry by promising her a chance to revive her career along with fame and fortune. In the original “Rosemary’s Baby,” Minni was portrayed by Ruth Gordon, who clinched an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Director James aimed to craft a distinctive version of Minnie. “With Dianne, it was about creating something really distinct, because Minnie is so wonderfully flamboyant and pushy in her way. Even in the costume considerations, we went for more ’50s silhouettes. There’s a garishness to her character that is definitely there in the original film too, but we twisted it a bit to make it our own,” James explained.

One of the intriguing images released showed an injured Terry receiving help from the Castavets, possibly during their initial encounter. The photos imply that Terry eventually accepts their offer, as depicted by her glamorous transformation. However, such a lucrative deal comes with dark strings attached, paving the movie’s path to horror.

Julia Garner shed light on her character’s relationship with the Castavets, stating, “They’re childless, so I’m like the daughter they never had. At first, I thought they wanted me for some kind of a sex thing, but they’ve turned out to be like real grandparents.”

In the 1968 original, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) meets a young woman in the building’s basement laundry room. Garner’s Terry is this young woman, originally played by Angela Dorian. The new stills depict this scene, with Garner approaching the young woman doing her laundry.

“Apartment 7A” is inspired by Ira Levin’s “Rosemary’s Baby,” based on his 1967 novel. Produced by Paramount Pictures and Sunday Night Production, the screenplay was penned by James in collaboration with Christian White and Skylar James. Vicki Dee Rock and Alexa Ginsburg are the executive producers.

James revealed her initial skepticism about taking on the project. “For sure, I never would’ve signed on to do a remake of such a classic and seminal film. But it’s been a joy to be able to play within the world and the sandbox of Ira Levin’s novel and also play with the characters. I guess my motivation for taking it on was feeling like there was a different emotional journey to be explored and to do it in a way that skewed the genre a little bit,” she shared in her interview.

The film underscores parallels with the original. While in “Rosemary’s Baby,” it’s Rosemary’s husband who’s the entertainer, in “Apartment 7A,” Terry faces the inability to continue dancing. This drives her into poverty and a debilitating drug addiction, making her susceptible to the Castavets’ dubious offers. They bolster their promises with the support of a Broadway producer, played by Jim Sturgess.

Distinctly, while Rosemary begins as a victim of her husband Guy’s conspiracies, Terry is thrust into a more complex position. She becomes both the victim and a willing participant, embodying elements of both Guy and Rosemary. This duality makes her complicit in her descent into horror.

Julia Garner, known for her role in “Ozark” (for which she received three Primetime Emmys), and her portrayal of Anna Delvey in Netflix’s “Inventing Anna,” leads the cast. She is also set to appear in Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four” as Shalla-Bal.

The film features additional performances by Marli Siu, Rosy McEwen, Amy Leeson, and Scott Hume. It is rated R for “some violent content and drug use” and is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+ on September 27.

Source: Vanity Fair, Paramount Pictures