Andrew Dominik’s big screen adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ Blonde is moving forward with TheWrap today reporting that Jessica Chastain is in talks to play Norma Jeane Baker, aka Marilyn Monroe. The source material, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, was published in 2000 and is officially described as follows:
She was an all-American girl who became a legend of unparalleled stature. She inspired the adoration of millions, and her life has beguiled generations of fans and fellow artists. The story of Norma Jeane Bakerbetter known by her studio name “Marilyn Monroe”has been dissected for more than three decades, but never has it been captured in a narrative as breathtaking and transforming as Blonde.
In her most ambitious work to date, Joyce Carol Oates, one of America’s most distinguished writers, reimagines the inner, poetic, and spiritual life of Norma Jeane Bakerthe child, the woman, the fated celebrityand tells the story in Norma Jeane’s own voice: startling, rich, and shattering. This most intimate portrait of Norma Jeane reveals a fragile, idiosyncratically gifted young woman who makes and remakes her identity, ever managing to survive against crushing odds to become the definition of stardom. Bit by bit, she tells her own epic story of how an emblematic American artistperpetually conflicted and intensely drivenlost her way.
Chastain, who was nominated for Academy Awards for her performances in both The Help and Zero Dark Thirty, can be seen coming up in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi adventure Interstellar.
An earlier iteration of Blonde had Naomi Watts cast in the leading role with a promotional image of her in costume debuting in 2010.
Worldview Entertainment is producing Blonde alongside Plan B Entertainment.
(Photo Credit: Brian To / WENN.com)
