American actress Jessica Chastain is in talks to star in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of ‘Molly’s Game’.
The 38-year-old actress – who notably played Murphy ‘Murph’ Cooper in Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film ‘Interstellar’ – is being lined up for this new film role which storyline is centred on Molly Bloom’s memoir of life as a sport’s star-turned-poker magnate.
A world-class skier since she could walk, she became a nationally-ranked business mogul at 21 while still excelling in college.
Molly just missed out on joining the Olympic team upon graduating and took a year off to live in Los Angeles, choosing the unlikely path of waitressing. Thanks to her business acumen, she ended up making millions by running the world’s most exclusive high stakes poker game for eight years before the FBI came calling.
The film, which originally started off as an idea back in November 2014, is currently at the casting stages. Sorkin, who is creator of the West Wing, penned the film script and decided to stay on to make his directorial debut within the film. And he wants Jessica Chastain in the lead.
Jessica has yet to sign the paperwork as it’s understood her hectic schedule is holding things up.
Jessica recently wrapped production for Focus Features’ film adaptation of Diane Ackerman’s novel ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife’ opposite Daniel Brühl. And last week she stepped on set for the first day of filming for John Madden’s ‘Miss Sloane’.
And to add to her expanding film credits, she will next be seen alongside Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt in ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’.
But according to industry insiders she is keen to make ‘Molly’s Game’ work, via her production company Feckle Films and with filmmakers yet to announce a start date – it looks like Sorkin has a bit more time to seal the deal.
Producer Mark Gordon secured the rights to the book and is working alongside former Sony boss Amy Pascal.
Jessica Chastain set for lead role in Molly’s Girl
