Caffeinated Clint
She’s more resourceful than a Swiss Army knife, and her next role should remind us of that can’t-buy adaptability.
From “The Hurt Locker” to “Interstellar”, “The Martian” and “The Huntsman : Winter’s War”, Jessica Chastain seems determined for her career not to go the way of a Spelling sibling.
Chastain’s signed up to do a film based on the graphic novel series “Painkiller Jane”, Deadline informs us. This isn’t some effects-clad superhero thing though, it’s actually closer to a “Death Wish” or “John Wick” (closest in tone to it, comic wise, might be “The Punisher” though) revenge yarn, with Chastain playing a street cop who, equipped with some new powers (she can regenerate rather quickly), goes after those believe believes fricked up her life. If done well, the thing could be a nice meeting of the vigilante subgenre and supernatural genre. “John Wican”, if you will?
Those with a good memory will recall “Painkiller Jane” hit the small screen in 2007, courtesy SyFy. Kristanna Loken had the lead role in the 22-episode series and telemovie that preceded it.
Chastain, being the big wig she now is, would also produce the film – so she’d get a big say at the table, suggesting the film has half a shot at being decent. The project is housed at Lotus Entertainment, whose biggest recent credits include the meh Tom Hanks vehicle “Hologram for the King” and forgotten indie “Z for Zachariah” with Chris Pine and Margot Robbie. Big one for them, in other words.
Chastain, no stranger to playing tough female roles, will play Jane Vasko, a New York City street cop who gets recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a major NYC drug and human trafficking ring. In a near death experience, Jane develops exceptional regenerative abilities that give her a unique indestructible advantage. With nothing to live for and no way to die, Painkiller Jane becomes an unstoppable force of nature seeking revenge to those who destroyed her life as she leaves a path of death and destruction in her wake.
