First Look at Jessica Chastain in Liv Ullman’s “Miss Julie” Adaptation

May 14, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

missjulie001sm Jessica Chastain has seemingly scarcely had a break since she burst onto the scene in 2011, and today we have our first photo of her in her first film since landing her second Oscar nomination in as many years. Screen Daily visited the set of Liv Ullman’s adaptation of iconic Swedish play “Miss Julie” and have released the first photo of Chastain in the titular role.

On the condition that this newest big screen adaptation of Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s 1888 play be in the English language, its setting has been moved from Sweden to Northern Ireland, where the sociopolitical environment is said to be similar. Chastain plays the upper class young woman who decides to go dance at the servants’ annual midsummer party for a bit of fun, and becomes drawn to John (Colin Farrell), who is particularly well-read and worldly despite his lower class standing. The two bond and form an attraction to each other even as they battle each other over issues regarding power, sex and freedom. Samantha Morton, as the house’s cook and Jean’s fiancee, witnesses the events as they unfold.

“Miss Julie” has no release date yet, but for now you can see the first photo of Chastain below and head over to Screen Daily for more, including the first photo of Farrell and other behind the scenes pictures.

Jessica Chastain Joining Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”

May 2, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Christopher Nolan’s space epic “Interstellar” just got a little more stellar. Deadline reports Jessica Chastain is now in talks to join the cast that already boasts Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.

The project has been in development for years, at one point with Steven Spielberg attached to direct, but now it’s being fast-tracked with Nolan on board directing from a script written by his brother and frequent collaborator Jonathan Nolan. Like everything he does, there are very few plot details available, but it deals with a group of scientific explorers who encounter time travel and alternate dimensions through a wormhole, or “a heroic interstellar voyage to the farthest borders of our scientific understanding.” Filming will probably begin soon as the film already has a November 7, 2014 release date.

Chastain is staying as busy as ever since being nominated for her second Oscar for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty.” She’s already filming the first follow-up, Liv Ulman’s adaptation of “Miss Julie”, and will do Guillermo Del Toro’s “Crimson Peak” in the spring of 2014. That film reunites her with Emma Stone, with whom she co-starred in “The Help”, which landed her her first Oscar nom in 2011. Just yesterday she became attached to WWII drama “The Zookeeper’s Wife.”

Jessica Chastain is “The Zookeeper’s Wife” in True Life WWII Drama

May 1, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Jessica Chastain is buying a zoo. THR reports the two-time Oscar nominee is attached to star in an adaptation of Diana Ackerman’s non-fiction bookk “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, with Niko Caro attached to direct.

Ackerman’s book is based mostly off of the diaries of Antonina Zabinski, the wife of zoologist and Polish resistance member Jan Zabinski. When the Nazis invaded Poland and took over Warsaw, the Zabinskis took in and saved the lives of over 300 Jews by smuggling them into empty cages and their own home. While her husband went off to fight, Antonina “kept a mix of humans and surviving animals (lynxes and hyena pups, among them) humming in a one-of-a-kind community that included socializing and even the occasional piano concert.” Rights are expected to go out to buyers at Cannes.

This is the third movie Chastain has committed to since being nominated for her second Oscar for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty.” She’s already filming the first, Liv Ulman’s adaptation of “Miss Julie”, and will film the second, Guillermo Del Toro’s “Crimson Peak”, in the spring of 2014. That film reunites her with Emma Stone, with whom she co-starred in “The Help”, which landed her her first Oscar nom in 2011.

Jessica Chastain Reunites with Emma Stone for Guillermo Del Toro’s “Crimson Peak”

April 5, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

jessica-chastain Guillermo Del Toro continues to assemble an incredibly impressive young cast for his haunted house horror flick “Crimson Peak”, with Variety reporting Jessica Chastain is the latest to move in, joining the previously announced Emma Stone, Charlie Hunnam and Benedict Cumberbatch.

There are no plot details available other than to say it involves a haunted house, but with Del Toro and this cast, who needs ‘em, really? Del Toro and Lucinda Coxon are working on a rewrite of the script which he first co-wrote with Matthew Robins. With such a hot cast, all busy with other projects for the foreseeable future, filming on “Crimson Peak” isn’t expected to begin until February of 2014.

Chastain, who first starred alongside Stone in 2011′s massive hit “The Help”, earned her first Oscar nomination for that film and then her second one this year for “Zero Dark Thirty.” She’s also worked with Del Toro before, as he produced January’s surprise horror hit “Mama.” She’s sought after for the role of Jane in David Yates’ new adaptation of “Tarzan”, but negotiations on that are ongoing and nowhere near finalized yet. In the meantime she’s committed to her first and only role since her second Oscar nomination, an adaptation of the August Strindberg play “Miss Julie” opposite Colin Farrell that Liv Ullman will direct.

Jessica Chastain Sought to be Jane to Alexander Skarsgard’s “Tarzan”

March 6, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

jessica-chastain Well, this is hardly a surprise and it’s probably too early to tell if they can actually get her, but The NY Post reports two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain is the first choice to play the female lead role of Jane in David Yates’ new live-action adaptation of “Tarzan.”

It appears at this point that no actors have been officially cast yet, though last we heard, “True Blood” star Alexander Skarsgard was Yates’ first choice to play Edward Rice Burroughs’ famous jungle-born hero, in this tale set years after he has reintegrated back into human society. One day, “he’s asked by Queen Victoria to investigate the goings-on in the Congo. Tarzan teams with an ex-mercenary named George Washington Williams to save the Congo from a fierce warlord who controls a massive diamond mine.” Samuel L. Jackson is reportedly being eyed for the role of the mercenary, and the film had been tentatively scheduled for a shoot this summer, though as far as we know, it still doesn’t even have an official green light yet. But you gotta believe if they could snag someone of Chastain’s level for Jane, a green light would come a lot easier.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Chastain could say yes to such a commercial project after making a name for herself in serious dramas like her Oscar-nominated roles in “The Help” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” She first said yes but then dropped roles in both “Iron Man 3″ and upcoming Tom Cruise sci-fi thriller “Oblivion.” She has only booked one new project since her second Oscar season winded down, an adaptation of the August Strindberg play “Miss Julie” opposite Colin Farrell that Liv Ullman will direct

Jessica Chastain books “Miss Julie” as first role post-Oscar nomination

January 30, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain has decided on her first role since “Zero Dark Thirty” landed her her second nom in as many years (she was nominated last year for “The Help.”) Variety reports Chastain will star opposite Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton in “Miss Julie”, an adaptation of the August Strindberg play that Liv Ullman will direct.

Chastain, in the titular role, will play a young upper class woman in 19th Century Sweden, who decides to go dance at the servants’ annual midsummer party for a bit of fun, and becomes drawn to Jean (presumably Farrell), who is particularly well-read and worldly despite his lower class standing. The two bond and form an attraction to each other even as they battle each other over issues regarding power, sex and freedom. Morton’s role is not specified but is likely that of Jean’s fiancee, a servant who works for Julie’s father. Not surprisingly, this isn’t the only offer Chastain has been considering. Variety reports she’s putting together her 2013 schedule and is deciding on other potential roles.

After having an amazing year in 2011, appearing in no less than six films and receiving her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for “The Help”, Chastain is still having a bit of a Moment two years later. Bin Laden thriller “Zero Dark Thirty” earned her her first Best Actress Oscar nomination, and the film, along with ghost flick “Mama”, put Chastain as the star of both films atop the American box office last weekend. She recently wrapped up companion films “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers” and is currently on Broadway as the star of “The Heiress.”

Oscar nominees Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway get boost with Critics’ Choice Award wins

January 10, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards Leave a comment

Looks like the Best Actress Oscar race is as tight as can be. While Jennifer Lawrence, thought to be a frontrunner for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook”, took home two Best Actress awards tonight from the Critics’ Choice Awards, they were for genre-specific categories – one in Action for her role as Katniss in “The Hunger Games” and one for “Silver Linings”‘ Tiffany in Comedy. Meanwhile, the really sought-after prize of Best Actress went instead to “Zero Dark Thirty” star Jessica Chastain, thought to be Lawrence’s biggest competition. It’s still a toss-up between the two in regard to what will happen on Oscar night, but tonight: Advantage Chastain.

Someone who doesn’t seem to have such a tight race on her hands is Anne Hathaway, who easily won the Best Supporting Actress award for her heartbreaking role as Fantine in “Les Miserables.” It’s no wonder the actress gave a heartfelt and slightly overwrought speech tonight – she’s obviously practicing for the big night next month. While it’s hers to lose, she’ll have to fend off Helen Hunt, Amy Adams, Jacki Weaver and particularly Sally Field before claiming the statue.

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” star Quvenzhane Wallis, another Best Actress Oscar nominee, won Best Young Actor from the BFCA tonight, beating out Logan Lerman for “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, Tom Holland for “The Impossible”, Suraj Sharma for “Life of Pi”, Kara Hayward for “Moonrise Kingdom” and Elle Fanning for “Ginger and Rosa.”

“Argo” took home the biggest prize of the night – Best Picture, and Ben Affleck won Best Director, a bit of a boost after the disappointment of being snubbed of a nomination earlier this morning by the Academy. The full list of Critics’ Choice Award winners tonight can be found below.

Jennifer Lawrence, Quvenzhané Wallis make Oscar history as nominations are announced

January 10, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards Leave a comment

It’s a history-making year for the Best Actress category as the nominations for “Beasts of the Southern Wild” star Quvenzhane Wallis and “Silver Linings Playbook” star Jennifer Lawrence made history. Nine year old Wallis becomes the youngest person ever to be nominated for Best Actress, while Lawrence, at 22, becomes the youngest person to be nominated twice for Best Actress (she received her first nomination in 2010 for “Winter’s Bone”). Also making history in the category is Emmanuelle Riva for “Amour”, who becomes the oldest Best Actress nominee ever at age 85. Naomi Watts for “The Impossible” and Jessica Chastain – thought to be Lawrence’s biggest competition for the win – for “Zero Dark Thirty” rounded out the top five.

“Beasts of the Southern Wild” and “Silver Linings Playbook” not only made history but were also two of the biggest winners of the morning, each earning more nominations than expected. In addition to Wallis, “Beasts” also garnered a Best Director nod for Behn Zeitlin and a Best Picture nomination. “Silver Linings” got its expected Best Picture, Best Director (David O. Russell), Best Supporting Actor (Robert DeNiro) and Best Actor (Bradly Cooper) nominations, but it surprised in Best Supporting Actress, where Jacki Weaver was nominated. That category is still led by Anne Hathaway’s powerhouse performance in “Les Miserables” (which missed out on Best Director for Tom Hooper but garnerd Hugh Jackman a Best Actor nod), while Amy Adams was nominated for “The Master”, Sally Field for “Lincoln” and Helen Hunt for “The Sessions.”

The category with the biggest shocks of the morning definitely came from Best Director, which snubbed not only Hooper for “Les Mis”, but also thought-to-be-sure-bets Kathryn Bigelow for “Zero Dark Thirty” and Ben Affleck for “Argo.” The two films had been thought to be the frontrunners for not only Best Director but also Best Picture, and will seemingly face a much steeper uphill climb on the latter. Steven Spielberg got an expected and deserved nomination for “Lincoln” (which led all nominations with 12), while Zeitlin for “Beasts”, Russell for “Silver Linings”, Ang Lee for “Life of Pi” (which came in second with 11 noms, including Best Picture) and Michael Haneke for “Amour” (which also picked up a Best Picture nom) rounded out the five.

The full list of nominations, announced this morning by Oscar host Seth MacFarlane and Emma Stone, can be found below (thanks to AwardsDaily).

Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence continue awards reign with Golden Globe nominations, “Lincoln” leads with seven

December 13, 2012 | Posted by Rebecca Lewis in Awards Leave a comment

Another day, another list of nominations annnounced. Today it’s the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globes, and pushing its reign further towards Oscar success is Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty“, which picked up nominations including Best Picture, Best Director for Bigelow and Best Screenplay for Mark Boal. Quentin Tarantino‘s “Django Unchained” is bouncing back from being left out of yesterday’s SAG nominations with five nominations including two in Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Zero Dark Thirty” star Jessica Chastain has been nominated in the Best Actress in a Drama category but making for a change, Chastain won’t be competing against her currently expected Oscar competitior Jennifer Lawrence, as Lawrence has been nominated in the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy category. Chastian will come up against Marion Cotillard for her brilliant turn in “Rust and Bone” and Naomi Watts in “The Impossible”.

Lawrence’s “Silver Linings Playbook” co-star Bradley Cooper also gets some love from the HFPA with a nom in the Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy category, alongside Hugh Jackman for “Les Miserables” and Jack Black in the critically acclaimed but little seen “Bernie“.

There were several notable films and performances left out though, including “Beasts of the Southern Wild” nor the Globes-friendly “Magic Mike” and “Pitch Perfect“. The cast of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower had begun to garner small wins with critic’s groups, and the Golden Globes seemed like a good place for their awards hopes to expand but there was no room for Ezra Miller nor Emma Watson.

Click below for a full list of nominations. The Golden Globes ceremony will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and will air Sunday, January 13 on NBC.

The casts of “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Lincoln” lead SAG nominations

December 12, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Awards 1 Comment

The actors have spoken, and they love “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Lincoln” (who can blame them?). The two Oscar frontrunners led the pack this morning, landing four nominations each as the Screen Actors Guild announced their nominees for 2012. Both films were nominated for Best Actor – Bradley Cooper squeezed in somewhat surprisingly for “Silver Linings”, while Daniel Day-Lewis’ Lincoln portrayal ranks among the finest of the year and was a sure bet. Jennifer Lawrence continues to dominate the Best Actress category, though her closest rival Jessica Chastain for critical darling “Zero Dark Thirty” was nominated as well. Working against Chastain’s film is the fact that it was left out of the lineup for Best Ensemble, the acting branch’s version of Best Picture.

The indie darling of the year, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, was not eligible for SAG nominations for its impressive duo, Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry, due to their non-union status while filming, and whether this is a blow to their Oscar chances will remain to be seen. Musical “Les Miserables” landed an expected nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Fantine Anne Hathaway (and a rather unexpected one for Valjean Hugh Jackman in Best Actor), though none of the other young supporting players managed to break in.

The full list of film nominations can be found below, and the winners will be announced on January 27th, 2013.

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