The last we heard about Andrew Dominik‘s long brewing Marilyn Monroe biopic “Blonde,” was that it was “good to go” with a shoot aiming for this August. But we had been down this road before when plans were afoot to shoot the movie in 2013, with Naomi Watts in the lead. Well, that actress dropped out a while ago and another has come in, and we think it’s a pretty great choice.
Jessica Chastain is now set to play Marilyn Monroe in the movie, which will be based on the critically acclaimed novel by Joyce Carol Oates. “The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” and “Killing Them Softly” star Brad Pitt‘s Plan B is producing the movie that Dominik has previously called “a really sprawling, emotional nightmare fairy-tale type movie.” Damn. Here’s the book synopsis from Amazon:
One of America’s most acclaimed novelists boldly re-imagines one of America’s most enduring icons in Blonde—the National Book Award-nominated bestseller by Joyce Carol Oates. The legend of Marilyn Monroe—aka Norma Jeane Baker—comes provocatively alive in this powerful tale of Hollywood myth and heartbreaking reality. Marilyn Monroe lives—reborn to tell her untold history; her story of a star created to shine brightest in the Hollywood firmament before her fall to earth. Blonde is a dazzling fictional portrait of the intricate inner life of the idolized and desired movie star as only the inimitable Joyce Carol Oates could paint it.
Dominik himself penned the screenplay and while there’s no word yet on when shooting will begin, we presume everyone is aiming for things to start this year. We’re just glad the wheels are moving again and this is one we’re definitely excited for. [The Wrap]
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Joyce Carol Oates is an awful writer. I read that one book she did about the Ted Kennedy car accident, just awful prose throughout.
The draft of the script that Dominik sent me almost read like a horror film. This is no ordinary biopic.
And yes, @ROB, I am pregnant — otherwise I'd be standing over a subway grate in a white dress in a New York minute.
Oates novel is a poor resource for a screenplay.It s very over imaginative. Try Donald Spoto biography. It is very thorough. The film should focus on her evolvement as Norma Jean then into Marilyn and into stardom. It should be shown from her perspective and the emotional journey she lives through while struggling to stardom. Hope the film turns out great Dom matey. Keep struggling. I know what screenwriting is like.
Rob wins comment(s) of the week.
Anyhow, this great. Naomi looks the part and is a great actress. But Jessica is just as good. Plus another piece by Dominik is always a good thing. Epically since it's outside his wheelhouse of crime drama and more of a personal drama.
I saw a tweet a couple of months ago from someone saying Dominik said Chastain was playing Monroe in a Q&A or something.
Seirously Dominik is going to waste his time with this? And Chastain is incredibly overrated.
Can we just give the whole Marilyn Monroe thing a rest! Is she that desperate to win an oscar
rockin' good news
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