Could the next big role for Jessica Chastain involve a dude wearing a loincloth? Rumors have it that she is being considered the first choice as Jane in David Yates‘ upcoming remake of Edgar Rice Burrough’s TARZAN.
The rumor originates from The New York Post citing studio sources, but nothing more has been said to substantiate it. The only concrete casting has been Alexander Skarsgard as the title character. Samuel L. Jackson has been rumored as a supporting role. My money would put Jackson as the villain. But Chastain would be an excellent choice. She is pretty and has serious acting chops.
Here is the unofficial synopsis for the rebooted TARZAN:
Years after he’s re-assimilated into society, [John Clayton III, a.k.a. Tarzan] is asked by Queen Victoria to investigate the goings-on in the Congo. Tarzan teams with an ex-mercenary named George Washington Williams to save the Congo from a fierce warlord who controls a massive diamond mine.
This would definitely be a new take on the classic story, but filmmakers will have to be careful since there is a connection with the ill-fated JOHN CARTER. Seeing as this is not going to be a contemporary retelling but rather a historically set film, it could work. Yates has proved himself capable with his HARRY POTTER directing gigs, so I will watch this one cautiously.