Generally speaking, Jessica Chastain has shied away from big, empty blockbusters (we’re still pretending “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” doesn’t exist), and when she has signed up for expensive studio fare, it’s usually been with an auteur at the helm like Christopher Nolan (“Interstellar“), Ridley Scott (“The Martian“), and Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak“). However, the actress has now signed up for her first superhero role, and nope, it’s not for Marvel or DC Films, which kinda perfectly fits her approach when it comes to mainstream entertainment.
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Deadline reports that Chastain has signed up to lead “Painkiller Jane.” The graphic novel series by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada follows a New York City cop who goes undercover, and after a near death experience, gains superhero style abilities. Here’s a book synopsis:
Jane Vasko was an undercover police officer attempting to infiltrate a major New York City drug ring. After gaining the trust of dealers, her cover was unknowingly blown and she was forced to submit to a drug cocktail that landed her in a coma until one day she awoke to a world where nothing was the same. Somehow infused with strange powers during her fitful sleep, Jane has nothing left to lose and a whole lot of people to make pay for what they’ve done. Painkiller Jane’s story begins here!
A couple years back, The Soska Sisters (“American Mary“) were attached to direct, but it seems they’ve moved on. At the moment, there’s no writer or filmmakers involved, but we’re sure with Chastain in the lead, she’ll attract some great talent.