Jessica Chastain Reunites With Oscar Isaac For 'Scenes From A Marriage' As Michelle Williams Drops Out

Cinephiles were offered an interesting proposal this summer: an HBO limited series remake of Ingmar Bergman‘s “Scenes From A Marriage,” a 1973 Swedish Television miniseries that the filmmaker wrote and directed, but this time starring the excellent pairing of Michelle Williams and Oscar Isaac. Now, the offering has changed, but is no less appealing. Williams has dropped out over scheduling issues. Instead, Isaac will star alongside Jessica Chastain, an old screen partner, and former Julliard alumni. The pair have already appeared next to one another as man and wife in 2014’s “A Most Violent Year” from director J.C. Chandor, so they’ll have a leg up in that regard.

You can still stick this one up on top of 2021’s most anticipated TV series list. Bergman’s painful and bruising “Scenes From a Marriage” chronicles the many years of love and turmoil that bind a couple through matrimony, infidelity, divorce, and subsequent partners. It’s a towering emotional piece of work and ranks up there among Bergman’s best.

Not much else in the packaging has changed. The new “Scenes From A Marriage” comes from “Our Boys” and “The Affair” co-creator Hagai Levi, Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res and Endeavor Content. Written and directed by Levi; also an exec producer, the series adaptation re-examines the original series iconic depiction of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple.

Bergman was acutely experienced with difficult, tumultuous relationships. The filmmaker was married five times and had many famous relationships (many with his leading ladies). He drew on his own experiences, including his relationship with Liv Ullmann, who starred in the original series.

Chastain teased “A Most Violent Year” sequel, or some continuation of the story last year, but there’s been little word since or details whether Chastain, Chandor, and Isaac would all reunite for the story. [Deadline]