Martin Landau, Virginia Madsen Join Cast of Lifetime's Anna Nicole Smith Biopic

Deadline reports that Academy Award winner Martin Landau and Oscar-nominated Virginia Madsen have joined the cast of Lifetime's upcoming biopic THE ANNA NICOLE STORY. Mary Harron (American Psycho) will direct the project and will executive produce along with Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and Judith Verno.

The biopic, penned by John Rice and Joe Batteer, is based on the story of Smith, whose real name was Vickie Lynn Hogan. It will follow the "pretty but plain girl growing up in a small Texas town who transforms herself into Anna Nicole Smith – a voluptuous, Marilyn Monroe-esque Playboy pin-up and model. Determined to be noticed, for good or ill, Vickie gets her wish, but it comes at a steep price, both for her and her beloved son, Danny."

Madsen will portray Virgie, Vickie’s mom while Landau will take on the role of oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall who married the 26-year-old Smith at the age of 89. His death a decade later led to an ugly legal battle with his son's over the estate.