Jessica Chastain Says Michael Shannon Will Co-Star & John Hillcoat Will Direct Her Tammy Wynette/George Jones Limited Series

Make your own material. That seems to be the ethos of Jessica Chastain’s production company, Freckle Films that produced and made this year’s TIFF hit “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” in which she stars(and which is already starting to generate Oscar buzz for Chastain; read our review). Chastain has said in the past that Freckle Films’ goal is to make female-driven films about the lives of fascinating or forgotten women who deserve a second appraisal. That’s certainly the case with “The Eyes Of Tammy Faye,” and possibly the same with “George & Tammy.”

READ MORE: Jessica Chastain To Star In New Streaming Series About Tammy Wynette & George Jones

Last fall, it was announced that Chastain was set to lead a new limited series that will follow the life of Tammy Wynette and her marriage with fellow country music star George Jones. Chastain would play Wynette in the streaming series, and the plan then, a year ago, was that the show would debut exclusively on Spectrum Originals streaming service and then nine months later on Paramount+ (given that barely anyone in 2021 has heard of the Spectrum Original streaming platform, one just wonders if this means a Paramount+ premiere these days).

READ MORE: Jessica Chastain Reportedly Turned Down A Role In ‘Doctor Strange’ Because She Wants “To Wear A Cape”

In the past, Josh Brolin, one of the producers on the series along with Chastain, has said he would play George Jones, but that’s turning out not to be the case. On the recent Happy Sad Confused podcast, Chastain has revealed that her “Take Shelter” co-star Michael Shannon—who she clearly adores, given the amount of time she sings his praises in the conversation— will play George Jones. Furthermore, she revealed that John Hillcoat, who directed her in “Lawless” amongst a vast cast that starred Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf, will direct the entire series.

READ MORE: Josh Brolin Says He’s Starring With Jessica Chastain In A Movie About George Jones & Tammy Wynette

Chastain didn’t reveal any more details, but these details sound very new; she was excited to share the “scoop,” and it sounds like it could be her next project.

READ MORE: How Jessica Chastain Got A ‘Star Is Born’ Assist To Sing As ‘Tammy Faye’ [Interview]

Based on the book “The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George,” by author Georgette Jones, Wynette’s daughter. “George & Tammy” is set to be written by Abe Sylvia, who previously worked on series such as “Dead to Me,” “Hap & Leonard,” “The Affair,” and “Nurse Jackie,” and perhaps more importantly, wrote Chastain’s “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

READ MORE: ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ Screenwriter Hopes Jim Bakker Will Watch It [Interview]

Most anticipated 2022 series? It’s unclear when it will air and when—if that Spectrum to Paramount+ deal still holds anyhow—but Chastain, Shannon, and Hillcoat together will undoubtedly have us glued to our couches the second the series premieres.