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‘Hitchcock’: Anthony Hopkins in makeup, Ralph Macchio cast

In full makeup for the aptly named film "Hitchcock," Anthony Hopkins is hardly recognizable, bearing a striking resemblance to the famous filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.

Hopkins plays the auteur—known for his mastery of suspense in cinema— in the film due out in theaters in 2013, which also stars Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh and James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins.

Based on the book about the making of the 1960 film "Psycho," Helen Mirren, Jessica Biel and Toni Collette co-star. "Hitchcock" is directed by Sacha Gervasi, who also helmed the 2008 documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil." The film began shooting last week, fittingly, on Friday the 13th, according to People.com.

Earlier this week, Ralph Macchio was announced as part of the "Hitchcock" cast. He is set to play "Psycho" screenwriter Joe Stefano.

[4/19 UPDATE:] Macchio told Yahoo! Movies, "Very eager and excited... I'm always intrigued by how a classic comes to fruition - and there's some great interview footage available of Joe talking about his introduction to Hitchcock and his journey from a young screenwriter to a Hitchcock collaborator and good friend. Great info to draw from in preparing. Working opposite Anthony Hopkins, one the greatest actors of our lifetime as he portrays one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history - icing on the cake!"

With this role, Macchio could finally be on the road to becoming best known for something other than "The Karate Kid."

Far from being a kid, the 50-year-old actor has experienced an impressive, yet, varied career. He is best known for his starring role in the hit 1984 coming-of-age flick in which he waxed on and waxed off for mentor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), but has also starred in a handful of less memorable titles, and co-starred in critically acclaimed films "The Outsiders" (1983) and "My Cousin Vinny" (1992).

In more recent years he has starred as himself on television, most notably on season 12 of "Dancing with the Stars," and "Entourage" (2005). Macchio also won warm reviews as J. Pierrepont Finch in the musical "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" in the late nineties.

In typical filmmaking fashion, wherein its difficult to decipher who is copying gaining inspiration from who, there is another Hitchock project currently in post-production about the making of "The Birds" (1963) starring Sienna Miller ("Factory Girl", "Alfie") and Toby Jones ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy") called "The Girl." It is produced by the BBC and will premiere on HBO late this year.

Watch Famous 'Psycho' Shower Scene: