Thescreescore – The highly anticipated reimagining of the 1992 psychological thriller Single White Female, now titled Single Female, is gaining significant momentum with recent additions to its creative team. Wednesday sensation Jenna Ortega is set to star alongside Bones and All‘s Taylor Russell in this modern take on the cult classic, which originally captivated audiences with its macabre narrative of dangerous obsession, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The original film was a surprise box office success, grossing $84 million.
Adding substantial weight to the project, Sarah DeLappe, acclaimed for her sharp script for the horror-comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, has reportedly joined Single Female as its screenwriter. Her involvement is complemented by the attachment of seasoned producers Stacey Sher and Marisa Paiva, a development confirmed by industry reports.
While initial reports of Ortega’s involvement in 3000 Pictures’ Single Female surfaced in March 2025, concrete updates on the production have been sparse until now. The recent announcement of a screenwriter and two prominent producers marks a crucial turning point, injecting vital energy into the project’s development.
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DeLappe’s impressive resume extends beyond Bodies Bodies Bodies, including a consulting producer and writing role on HBO’s 2024 miniseries The Regime. Producer Stacey Sher brings a wealth of experience, with recent works spanning the horror genre (Heretic), comedy (Poolman, notably featuring original Single White Female star Jennifer Jason Leigh), and the critically praised musical biopic Respect. Marisa Paiva’s production prowess is evident in films like the 2022 period romance Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
As of now, the director’s chair for Single Female remains unfilled, and no additional cast members beyond Ortega and Russell, who are also stepping into executive producer roles, have been announced. The original 1992 film, helmed by Oscar-nominated director Barbet Schroeder, garnered a mixed critical reception, reflected in its 53% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it found a staunch advocate in legendary critic Roger Ebert, who lauded the psychological thriller for elevating the slasher genre, stating, "No genre is beyond redemption or beneath contempt, and here the slasher genre is given its due with strong performances and direction."
Jennifer Jason Leigh’s unnerving portrayal of a woman whose intense fixation on her new roommate, played by Bridget Fonda, spirals into lethal obsession, earned her the 1992 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. Her iconic performance was also recognized by thescreescore.com, which, in its January 2025 retrospective of Leigh’s finest cinematic and television work, placed Single White Female at number 10, commending her as "great in her role as the dangerous stalker who would kill anyone to keep what she believed she deserved.”
A direct-to-video sequel, Single White Female 2: The Psycho, emerged in 2005, though it notably lacked the original stars and maintained only a tenuous connection to its predecessor. The upcoming Single Female aims for a more faithful yet fresh approach, intending to recapture the original’s deeply unsettling character dynamics and its unique brand of elevated psychological horror. With "Scream Queen" Jenna Ortega at its helm, this project further solidifies her reign in the horror genre, promising another compelling, dark performance.
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