Fans of Jessica Chastain and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” are in for another disappointment: The Oscar winner confirmed there is “zero possibility” she will star in the film adaptation.
Netflix first announced a feature film version of the 2017 novel — about a fictional Old Hollywood movie star who gives her final interview — back in 2022. Writer Liz Tigelaar (who’s worked on “Brothers & Sisters” and created the CW series “Life Unexpected”) was attached to pen the script, with Leslye Headland (“Russian Doll” co-creator and “The Acoylte” showrunner) attached to direct.
“I love how excited the fans are,” Chastain told E! News in a recent interview. “When I was working on Broadway, every single day, they’d be outside, when I was signing, with the books. I just love how wonderful that fan base is.”
Fans campaigned on social media for Chastain to play Celia St. James, a lesbian love interest of the title character, who’s recounting the halcyon days of her career to a journalist in present day. No news on the film project has been announced since 2022.
Chastain added, “I look forward to watching it, and I’m sorry to disappoint everyone out there!”
When asked on “Watch What Happens Live” about the fan-casting back in January 2023, Chastain said, “I do know there is an online thing about it. Sure, send me a script.”
In a viral moment during her spring 2023 Broadway run for “A Doll’s House,” Chastain was approached by a fan during a meet-and-greet outside the Hudson Theatre to sign a copy of Reid’s book.
“I can’t sign that, just because I’m not doing it,” Chastain said in the shared video. The “Molly’s Game” star later explained on social media her reasoning for declining to sign books she’s not attached to.
“I’ve been asked multiple times by fans, to sign books that I’m not attached to contractually. Because it feels wrong, and like I’m taking credit for someone else’s work, I’ll say I can’t sign because I’m not doing it,” Chastain wrote. “That doesn’t mean I’ve read a bad script.”
Originally set up as a Freeform series helmed by “The L Word” team Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals, the project moved to Netflix, with “Little Fires Everywhere” creator Liz Tigelaar taking over as writer.
The Taylor Jenkins Reid screen universe includes the film “One True Loves” starring Simu Liu, Phillipa Soo, and Luke Bracey, plus the Prime Video series “Daisy Jones and the Six.” An adaptation of the novel “Malibu Rising” is also in the works at Hulu.
Jessica Chastain is currently on the awards promo trail for her film “Memory,” directed by Michel Franco and now in limited release. Her performance as a caretaker who rekindles with a former high school classmate (Peter Sarsgaard) earned her a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Lead Performance.
IndieWire has reached out to Chastain’s reps for any additional comment.
