Pretty Little Liars Star To Portray JFK’s Forgotten Sister In A New Biopic

Well, here’s something you don’t see every week—a biopic about one of the less talked-about Kennedys, getting the psychological thriller treatment. And even more oddly, Sasha Pieterse—the one who played Alison DiLaurentis in Pretty Little Liars—has landed the starring role as Rosemary Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s lesser-known sister. Honestly, it’s the sort of casting and concept that makes you check twice to see if it isn’t actually satire.

Who’s doing what (and who are these people)?

Here’s what we know:

• Sasha Pieterse is set to play Rosemary Kennedy, the first daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, and sibling to a certain future US president.
• The film’s being pitched as a psychological thriller—not your standard issue historical drama, then.
• Cory Todd Hughes and Adrian Speckert are not only writing but also directing. If those names aren’t ringing any bells for you, rest assured, you’re not the only one.
• Mike Medavoy is producing—he’s had a hand in the likes of Shutter Island and Black Swan, so he’s no stranger to off-kilter psychological stuff.
• The source material: an article titled 'Rosemary Kennedy, JFK’s Sister Who Was Lobotomized And Locked Away.' Yes, you read that right—the plan is to tell the story of how Rosemary Kennedy, exhibiting signs of extreme mood swings in her youth (and possibly more severe mental health struggles), was subjected to a lobotomy at the age of 23. The procedure, orchestrated by her father, left her permanently disabled.

The real story they’re tackling

For the uninitiated, Rosemary was one of nine Kennedy siblings, born into a life lived almost entirely in the public eye. Despite being active in various social circles, she reportedly had serious behavioural and emotional issues, so much so that her father decided on a lobotomy to try and 'temper' her mood swings. Obviously, it did far more harm than good—afterwards, Rosemary was left unable to care for herself and lived out the rest of her long life at St. Coletta’s School for Exceptional Children, passing away there in January 2005.

What the filmmakers say (and what actually matters)

Medavoy, the producer, has tried to pitch this film as finally giving Rosemary her due, saying:

'This film takes a story that has long lived in the shadows of history and places Rosemary at the centre, not as a footnote in a political dynasty, but as a young woman with hopes, fears, and a voice that was never truly heard.'

Pieterse seems equally keen to focus on Rosemary as a real human being, not just tragic Kennedy trivia, saying she was drawn to the project because Rosemary is portrayed as 'a person, not a symbol, but a fully realized human being with dreams and vulnerabilities.'