Yahoo News What/If creator talks Renée Zellweger's "powerful" character
Netflix's What/If creator Mike Kelley has revealed the inspirations behind Renée Zellweger's "powerful" character.
It's the Bridget Jones actress' TV comeback, as well as a massive step away from her usual character roles (here, she plays a creepy seductress), so where did this idea come from?
Related: Bridget Jones star Renee Zellweger explains those viral 'surgery' pictures
Reflecting on the creation of Zellweger's character Anne Montgomery, Kelley explained to TV Line: "I've been thinking about this character for a long time. She was born out of my slightly unhealthy obsession with all things Mrs Robinson. That character is so powerful and witty and compelling, but also tragic.
"The Graduate was my first real movie obsession, and I always thought: 'What if Mrs Robinson didn't soak herself in martinis every night and indulge in self-loathing? What if she put it all into self-enterprise and success and became a person of consequence?'"
He continued: "As luck would have it, Renée felt the same way about [star] Anne Bancroft and Mrs Robinson. I actually named the character after Anne Bancroft."
There were even more films in the back of Kelley's mind during the development process, as he added: "Renée is a huge fan - as am I - of all those late '80s/early '90s social thrillers - Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct and, of course, Indecent Proposal.
"I really wanted to bring back that tone and have a lot of fun, while also subverting the notion of morality and where we are right now as a people."
Season 1 of What/If is now available on Netflix.
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