Jessica Chastain continues to line up future projects. Just a day after Apple announced the actress and Ben Stiller would star together in the upcoming series “The Off Weeks,” there’s another Chastain-led vehicle on the way. This one’s a film, though, and it reunites Chastain with her “The Help” co-star Octavia Spencer.
Variety reports that the pair will co-lead “Deck The Y’alls,” a holiday comedy from “Girls Trip” writer Tracy Oliver and Stefanie Williams. Chastain will star in the film as a New York baker who head to Charleston, South Carolina to spend Christmas with her beau. But once she’s there, she butts heads with Spencer’s over-protective matriach, a celebrity chef. Wanda Sykes also stars in a supporting role.
Sandbox Studios leads producers on “Deck The Y’alls,” with Sony Music Vision, as well as Spencer’s ORIT Entertainment and Chastain‘s Freckle Films. The producers are actively searching for a distributor now. It’s also worth noting that Sandbox Studios and Freckle Films have another project in the work starring Chastain: “Heartland,” a mytery thriller over at Netflix.
A raunchy holiday rom-com for Chastain? That’s unexpected from the Oscar winner, who’s just a few years removed from her Best Actress victory via “The Eyes Of Tammy Faye.” But seeing Chastain back on screen with her “The Help” co-star Spencer should be exciting. Both actresses got nominated for Best Supporting Actress for their work in the 2011 film, with Spencer winning the category. “Deck The Y’alls” will be the first time the two appear onscreen together since that film.
Chastain’s other recent works include the Showtime series “George And Tammy,” “Mother’s Instinct,” and “Memory.” “Dreams,” which bowed at the Berlinale this past February, should hit US theaters in 2026. She’s also currently onscreen on “The Savant,” premiering on Apple TV+ now. Also on the way for the actress? The Blumhouse horror pic “Other Mommy,” in theaters next October, and the aforementioned Apple TV+ show “The Off Weeks.” Chastain had another Oscar nomination for “Zero Dark Thirty.”
As for Spencer, her 2025 roles include voice work on “Smurfs,” and “Tow,” a drama that had its world premiere at Tribeca back in June. Since her Oscar win for “The Help,” Spencer was also nominated for her work in “Hidden Figures” and “The Shape Of Water.” She also notched an Emmy nod for the Netflix limited series “Self Made.”
Meanwhile, Sykes is a comedian and Emmy-winner best known for her TV credits like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The New Adventures Of Old Christine.” She also has done a handful of comedy specials, including “Tongue Untied,” “Sick & Tired,” and “Not Normal.”
Stay tuned for more details in “Deck The Y’alls,” which should reach audiences in time for the 2026 holiday season.
