‘Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes’ to Reel in Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel is in final negotiations to join Kayla Scodelario (Skins) in the film Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes.  According to Variety, writer/director Francseca Gregorini’s (Tanner Hall) film is about a pair of psychologically damaged young women who obsess and go crazy over life-like dolls.  Biel will take the role of Linda and will play opposite Scodelario’s Emanuel.  Gregorini had originally wanted to reunite with his Tanner Hall star, Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), but scheduling got in the way.

 “Emanuel is a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda’s “baby,” which is actually a life-like doll. She goes along with the delusion while befriending Linda, who happens to be the spitting image of Emanuel’s dead mother.”

Biel has been coasting as eye-candy in dopey ensemble comedies for awhile and hasn’t had a demanding role since Home of the Brave.  Next up for her is in the remake of Total Recall.

Meanwhile, the very-much-in-demand Mara is learning the old Hollywood conundrum of having to sometimes say no to roles that appeal to them.  I doubt she’ll have much time to wonder the “what-ifs” as she’ll be busy “playing with fire” and “kicking hornet’s nests” in the expected sequels to Dragon Tattoo.