As we know, the film The Bitter End will recount the tragic final days of the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson—and it’s striking how closely her reality mirrors that of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. This chilling story is brought to life by two cinematic legends: Isabella Rossellini and Joan Collins, playing the enigmatic and ruthless lawyer Suzanne Blum and Simpson, respectively.

Today, the first official image from the film reveals how Joan Collins, the iconic star of Dynasty, has flawlessly transformed into Simpson. The Duchess of Windsor rocked the British monarchy by capturing the heart of King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to be with her.

The Bitter End is directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and written by Louise Fennell (mother of Emerald Fennell, known for Saltburn and Wuthering Heights). The film focuses on the Duchess’s final years, marked by isolation, dementia, and a disturbing relationship with Blum, who gradually took near-total control over the life of the former socialite, a woman who had fascinated and scandalized the world for decades.

A true story shrouded in mystery and power

After the death of Edward VIII in 1972, an elderly and frail Wallis Simpson became easy prey for Suzanne Blum, a brilliant and feared lawyer known for representing Rita Hayworth in her divorce from Prince Aly Khan. The new production promises to lay bare the web of manipulation and psychological control Blum spun around the Duchess. Biographers claim Blum dismissed all of Simpson’s other legal advisors and became her sole representative, keeping her isolated in the Villa Windsor in Paris, where she died in 1986.

Glamour, decay, and big names

The first released image shows Joan Collins in dark sunglasses, draped in furs and jewelry, holding a vase of yellow roses—possibly a nod to the Duchess’s golden solitude. Isabella Rossellini, on the other hand, appears with a fixed gaze and stern expression, seemingly capturing a moment of silent tension between the two women.

Recently nominated for an Oscar for Conclave, Rossellini brings not only decades of brilliant performances—from Blue Velvet to Death Becomes Her—but also the weight of a remarkable artistic legacy. The daughter of Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, she was an international model and has directed personal projects exploring aging and femininity.

The cast also includes Miranda Richardson (twice Oscar-nominated) and Charles Dance, known for The Crown and Game of Thrones, and who, in real life, was close to Wallis Simpson after the King’s abdication. There’s speculation he may reprise the role of Lord Mountbatten.

What’s truly astonishing, everyone, is how Joan Collins is relaunching her career with The Bitter End just shy of turning 92, and she seems more vibrant than ever. “I’m thrilled by the challenge of playing this iconic woman in a story that’s never been told,” said the actress, who won a Golden Globe and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Dynasty.

With The Crown now concluded on Netflix, this film offers a fresh way to revisit the story of two controversial women. The project is being celebrated by fans of history, cinema, and royalty as one of the most promising biopics of the season. The casting is widely seen as a triumph: Collins, with her sharp elegance and commanding aura, and Rossellini, with her intellectual mystery and dramatic depth, seem tailor-made to revive this psychological duel between two women who lived in the shadow of the crown—and on the edge of sanity.

Filming is already underway, and The Bitter End is expected to premiere in 2026, marking not only the return of legendary stars to the spotlight, but also the resurrection of a dark, tense, and still largely untold chapter of history.