Helen Mirren plays iconic author Patricia Highsmith in A Talent for Murder trailer

Helen Mirren takes on the role of celebrated author Patricia Highsmith in the trailer for A Talent for Murder. Anton Corbijn directed the film and Joanna Murray-Smith penned the screenplay. In the movie, Alden Ehrenreich plays Edward Ridgeway, an individual sent by his New York publisher to Switzerland to persuade Highsmith to write one last novel in her renowned Ripley series.

However, Ridgeway's mission is complicated by the fact that another representative from the publisher has been dispatched to perform the same task, with no one hearing back from him. Furthermore, there appear to be numerous firearms and knives throughout Highsmith's residence, as evidenced by the trailer. Highsmith, however, has a plan for Ridgeway to demonstrate his ability to "inhabit the mind of a killer" for just one night before committing anything to paper.

As a result, the duo embark on a crime writing course tailored to Highsmith's style. In order to accomplish this, they must locate their mark, a captivating female character with the name Clementine Harriet Balfour (portrayed by Olivia Cooke from House of the Dragon). As Ridgeway immerses himself in the Ripley game with Highsmith, the darkness of her literature begins to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

A Talent for Murder will be released in theaters on October 23. For the latest film and television news and reviews, sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or enable push alerts on Mashable.