After years of heavy dramatic work, Jessica Chastain is ready to cut loose a little bit and stretch her funny bone. The Oscar-nominated “Zero Dark Thirty” actress just signed on to frontline “Plus One” — which marks her first comedic lead role. And though it’s unclear just yet if her comedy chops are on par with her dramatic ones, the “Crimson Peak” star shouldn’t have to worry too much either way. She has current “SNL” standout Cecily Strong by her side for the ride.
The new comedy follows a single woman (Chastain) who realizes her girlfriends are limited as all her single friends are married or soon-to-be, but she soon finds an unexpected bond with a fearless, sexually uninhibited woman (Strong) who quickly becomes her wingwoman in the dating world. As to be expected, Chastain will serve as the straight woman to Strong’s comedic freeballing, but this should still nevertheless serve as a healthy progression for the ever-versatile actress — and, hopefully a fun, liberating one, too. Chastain is easily one of the best, most talented actresses working out there today, and if she can master comedy along the way, she’s practically unstoppable at this point.
READ MORE: The Playlist’s Woman Of The Year 2011: Jessica Chastain
And she appears to be in some good hands, at least: “Plus One” serves as director Patrick Brice’s follow-up to last year’s disarming couple dramedy “The Overnight” with a script from former “Charmed” and “Entourage” assistant April Prosser, making her screenwriting debut here. Hopefully the talent pool suggests Prosser’s first rodeo at the pen demands our attention.
“Plus One” is currently being shopped around Cannes under Gloria Sanchez Productions, a company dedicated to female-led movies and TV programs. They shouldn’t have any trouble sweeping some investors up as it makes its rounds in Festival City. In the meantime, Chastain has a boatload of other projects on her plate, including Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut “Molly’s Game,” Xavier Dolan’s “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan,” Susanna White’s “Woman Walks Ahead” and an adaptation of Diane Ackerman’s novel, “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” Needless to say, she’s got a lot going for her right now. And hopefully, with this new project, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” isn’t the only thing that brings some laughs from her in the near future. [Deadline]