Sadly, this isn’t news about “The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman,” a still-gestating musical from Guy Maddin with the music of theatrical ‘70s rockers Sparks. But hey, a project called “Seducing Ingmar Bergman” with Jessica Chastain is a pretty good runner-up.
The two-time Academy Award nominee and current Cannes Jury member will star and produce “Seducing Ingmar Bergman’ through her Freckle Films shingle. Arash Amel who wrote “Grace Of Monaco” (slightly worrisome since that movie is trash), is penning the script and will also co-produce. “Seducing Ingmar Bergman” is based on the 2012 novel by Chris Greenhalgh. which tells the story of the torrid romance between the Casablanca actress and celebrated war photographer Robert Capa. Here’s the book’s official synopsis which goes on to explain how their relationship started in Paris immediately following WWII:
READ MORE: Jessica Chastain Calls For More Female Film Critics
June 1945. When Ingrid Bergman walks into the lobby of the Ritz hotel in Paris, war photographer Robert Capa is enchanted. From the moment he slips a mischievous invitation to dinner under her door, the two find themselves helplessly attracted. Played out against the cafés and nightclubs of post-war Paris and the parties and studios of Hollywood, they pursue an intense and increasingly reckless affair.
But the light-hearted Capa, who likes nothing more than to spend his mornings reading in the tub and his afternoons at the racetrack, is not all that he seems. And Ingrid offers the promise of salvation to a man haunted by the horrors of war, his father’s suicide, and the death of a former lover for which he blames himself. Addicted to risk, Capa must wrestle his devils, including gambling and drink, and resist an impulse to go off and photograph yet another war.
Meanwhile, Ingrid, trapped in a passionless marriage and with a seven-year-old daughter to bring up, must court scandal and risk compromising her Hollywood career and saintly reputation if their love is to survive. With their happiness and identities at stake, both Capa and Ingrid are presented with terrible choices.
No director has been set yet, nor the casting of Robert Capa so it’s likely not going to be going in front of cameras anytime. But Chastain as Ingrid Bergman? Yes, please. [Deadline]