X(avier) Marks the Spot for Jessica Chastain
Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 4:00PM Glenn here to talk about two of my favourite people, Xavier Dolan and Jessica Chastain. We don't usually discuss casting here at The Film Experience, especially this early into a film's existence, because they can so easily fluctuate and change without a moment's notice. This, however? This is casting news we absolutely must discuss.
Dolan's most recent film (it's hard to keep track) is Mommy, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes and is getting big plaudits out of Toronto including this one from Nathaniel labelling it his best work best. Not one to rest on his 25-year-old laurels, the Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan has cast Jessica Chastain in his English-language debut!! I'm not sure how much about The Death and Life of John F. Donovan we know already, but the exceptionally coiffed Dolan says it is a satire of the industry and that Chastain will play the villain, an editor-in-chief of a gossip magazine. Jessica is getting her Miranda Priestly on and I'm sure Dolan's hyper-stylized panache will make it yet another must see for both exceptionally talented individuals. Here's what he had to say, courtesy of /bent.
It was this friend of mine -- a journalist -- who had brought to my attention that Jessica Chastain had seen Mommy in Cannes and had liked it and tweeted about it ... It dawned on me that I should ask Jessica about playing the 'villain' role in 'John F. Donovan ... I reached out to Jessica and she read the script. She loved it, and we got along like hotcakes. That's basically it. I can already foresee all the pleasure we'll have working together.
This is the tweet in question and it's yet another example of why it amuses me so much to see filmmakers actually talking about other films and filmmakers. It's a great way of predicting who will be in this industry for the long haul if they're out there seeking films beyond the usual LA/NY red carpet events. It shows they're much deeper into their craft than it being a mere "job". Kudos to Chastain.
Completely blown away by @XDolan. His film, MOMMY was so impressive
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) May 22, 2014
Despite how amazing the two of them are, the news makes me doubly happy because it will surely mean that Xavier Dolan will get even more of a name for himself and hopefully his films can start coming out in America faster than they have been (Tom at the Farm *still* doesn't have a distributor!) What their collaboration will produce who can tell, but good grief are we keen! Not even the news that Dolan wants Taylor Kitsch, too, can dampen the excitement. What about you, does Jessica or Xavier excite you more?
Reader Comments (9)
miranda priestly ran a gossip magazine?
I have never seen his films, but I'm intrigued.
Of all the new talent in Hollywood, Jessica is the one person that will guarantee that I'll be in that movie theater.
Always auteur-savyy, that Jessica Chastain. Jumping on the Xavier Dolan bandwagon early. Good for her. Their styles will mix well I think. And I hope this means Dolan will get the attention he deserves, his exposure in the US is still very small; if he was american, he'd be huge by now.
P.S. - Jessica, don't forget, next on your list should be Pedro Almodovar, yes? Get that man out of his hiatus, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG! :)
I love Jessica Chastain. Like Streep she is a technician. But unlike Streep, there is a beating heart and soul in whatever she does.
I was at the Q&A he did at the MoMA and he talked a little about the plot of this film. If I recall correctly, it's about this Hollywood star (he shyly revealed he wanted Taylor Kitsch to play him, he's a big Friday Night Lights fan) and a this kid who is a fan who send each other letters. One day the letters are exposed and the actor is accused of pedophilia by the public and the media.
He didn't mention Chastain's character, but I'm sure it'll be an important one if he describes it as the main villain and someone her size is playing her.
So excited for this my heart is palpitating.
This movie needs to happen immediately.
Marcelo, a villainous magazine editor in chief? I don't think it's a particularly long bow to stretch with a Prada comparison even if the films and the roles are nothing alike.
When I read about how Jessica Chastain loves movies, sees as many as she can, and is so enthusiastic about her colleagues in her profession, I think of course Chastain understands where the exciting artistic things are happening in her field.
And of course people want to hire her. She's got great technical skills, sincerity, generosity, and a desire to work with and appreciate the best.
As an audience, I feel she's marking out what is lively and new, and I want to go see everything she does.