After bit part roles in such films as “Grown Ups,” “Sucker Punch” and the ‘The Hangover‘ sequel, Jamie Chung is now set for quite the 180 degree turn top-lining “Eden,” an ironically-titled indie-drama by Seattle filmmaker Megan Griffiths which also co-stars Scoot McNairy.
Chung will play a young Korean-American girl who is abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers. Throughout the two years she is held, she ensures her own survival by carving out power and influence within the very organization that has imprisoned her. No word on what kind of role McNairy will be taking but it certainly sounds like the story — which Griffiths with Richard B. Phillips based on a story by Phillips and Chong Kim — will be heading into some pretty dark places.
McNairy is, in fact, reuniting with a former collaborator of his after starring in Griffith’s “The Off Hours,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Ever the supporter of independent filmmaking, the “Monsters” star will be admirably following up from a role opposite Brad Pitt in Andrew Dominik‘s “Cogan’s Trade.” Chung, meanwhile, keeps going from strength to strength after coming to pop-culture relevance through MTV reality show “The Real World.” She’s got forthcoming roles in “Premium Rush” along side Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Shannon and RZA‘s directorial debut “The Man With The Iron Fists” with Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu and Pam Grier among others.
Colin Harper Plank and Jacob Mosler are producing through Plank’s Centripetal Films shingle with lensing set to take place in Griffith’s native Seattle and eastern Washington this August.