Hilary Duff signs on to star as Sharon Tate in new film

Hilary Duff has signed on for the starring role in upcoming psychological horror film "The Haunting of Sharon Tate."

The role will mark a dark pivot for the "Younger" star as she tackles one of the most violent and twisted stories in Hollywood history. Tate was infamously murdered in 1969 by members of Charles Manson's cult, and the grim details of her horrific slaying sound more like a slasher movie than real life.

Duff will star as Tate alongside Jonathan Bennett and Lydia Hearst. Daniel Farrands will write and direct the film, which depicts Tate's final days leading up to her murder.

At the time of her murder, Tate was 26 and married to Roman Polanski (who would later be arrested for raping a 13-year-old girl). Two weeks away from giving birth, she pleaded with the Manson followers who would soon torture and stab her, "Please don't kill me. I just want to have my baby."

Also heading into production is Quentin Tarantino's film about Charles Manson, "Helter Skelter," for which he'll cast his own actress to play Tate. Tate's sister, Debra, told TMZ last year that her pick is Margot Robbie "simply because of her physical beauty."

Jennifer Lawrence, though, she said, is "not pretty enough to play Sharon."