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Annabelle Wallis on 'Unabomber' and Potential James Wan Reunion
Developing
In Short: Actress Annabelle Wallis has been reflecting on her collaborations with Steve Murphy, particularly her role in 'Peaky Blinders,' where her character Grace Burgess was tragically killed off in season three.
Wallis shared that Murphy has expressed regret over the fate of Grace and Tommy's relationship, suggesting he might have handled it differently if he had known how much fans would have loved it.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wallis revealed that James Wan, known for the Conjuring universe, has hinted at a potential project involving her.
Wallis' ability to connect with actors like Murphy and others in the industry has been noted, with her early success in 'Peaky Blinders' leading to her starring role in the 'Annabelle' film.
Her work on 'Peaky Blinders' and 'Annabelle' has established Wallis as an actress who can handle complex and demanding roles, often working with stars known for their distinct personas.
Wallis' reputation for working well with challenging personalities has also extended to her role in 'The Unabomber,' where she portrayed the wife of Ted Kaczynski, the notorious domestic terrorist.
What this adds
Wallis' comments about her work with Murphy and Wan provide new insights into her career trajectory and the potential for future projects.
The sources have not established specific details about the nature of the potential project with James Wan beyond the hint provided by Wallis.
Background
Theodore John Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, was an American mathematician and domestic terrorist. A mathematics prodigy, he abandoned his academic career in 1969 to pursue a reclusive primitive lifestyle and lone wolf terrorism campaign.
The Peaky Blinders were a street gang based in Birmingham, England, which operated from the 1880s until the 1920s. The group consisted largely of young criminals from lower- to working-class backgrounds.
What's still developing
- At the start of Peaky Blinders season three (2016), Wallis’ character, the newly minted Mrs. Tommy Shelby, was murdered in heartbreaking fashion.
- “Steve and I remain very close, and he has always said to me, ‘I think I messed up with Grace. If I had known Grace and Tommy would be a dynamic that people longed for all these years later, I would’ve perhaps done something very different,’” Wallis shares.
- “James actually sent me a message the other day: ‘Annabelle, watch this space. I’m about to tell you something,’” Wallis says.
- Annabelle Wallis has long considered herself an outsider, but she still has a knack for getting inside Hollywood’s most impenetrable personas.
- The end of 2013 proved to be a game-changer when she debuted as an undercover Irish cop named Grace Burgess opposite Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby in Steven Knight’s BBC series Peaky Blinders.
- Nonetheless, Wallis’ status as an early fan favorite likely helped land her another major role just a couple of months after Peaky Blinders season one concluded.
- Leonetti cast her as the lead of Annabelle, the first spinoff in the Conjuring universe, which went on to gross $257 million against a $6.5 million budget.
- Murphy may be the anti-movie star compared with the larger-than-life personas of Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Jason Statham, Sacha Baron Cohen and Jude Law, but Wallis has shown a natural ability to get past each of their defenses.