Katherine Heigl Is out for Blood in Denise Di Novi’s ‘Unforgettable’

Alex Aronson

Rosario Dawson and Katherine Heigl face-off in Denise Di Novi’s “Unforgettable.” The drama/thriller follows a jealous ex-wife as she makes her ex-husband’s new spouse’s life a living nightmare.  

Di Novi, the prolific producer behind Hollywood classics including “Edward Scissorhands,” “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “Batman Returns,” makes her feature-length directorial debut with “Unforgettable.”

Written by David Leslie Johnson (“The Conjuring 2”) and Christina Hodson (“Shut In”), the film centers on the conflict between Tessa Connover (Katherine Heigl) and Julia Banks (Rosario Dawson). Tessa is the former wife of David (Geoff Stults), who has moved on to a new spouse, Julia.

Julia serves as a step-mother for Tessa and David’s daughter, Lily. A begrudging Tessa is not pleased that someone else is happily living the life she once had and sets out to seek revenge against Julia. The jealous divorcee thrives on turning Julia’s life into an ultimate nightmare. Comedian Whitney Cummings also makes a supporting appearance.

Heigl has been absent from a major studio big screen picture since her supporting role in “The Big Wedding,” which underwhelmed at the box office in the spring of 2013. The last successful major leading role for the star was “The Ugly Truth” back in 2009. It doesn’t seem as if “Unforgettable” could turn into a comeback vehicle for the once viable rom-com box office star, but it could potentially help get her record back on the right track.

With a $12 million budget, “Unforgettable” falls directly in line with the drama/thriller sub-genre that pits women against each other – most notably drawing comparisons from “Obsession,” which found Beyonce battling Ali Larter, and the recent Regina Hall drama, “When the Bough Breaks.” The story is similar to the formula of a glorified Lifetime original movie – whether that is a positive or negative comparison is up to the viewer.

“Unforgettable” opens in theaters April 21.