Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak) is nearly set to take on the role of elite high-stakes poker player Molly Bloom in the Aaron Sorkin adaptation of her memoir, Molly’s Game, according to Deadline. The project is being financed by Mark Gordon and former Sony president Amy Pascal. The film will be Sorkin’s directorial debut (screen and teleplay writer for TV’s The Newsroom and Steve Jobs).

Just before this casting news, Chastain announced the groundbreaking of her very own production company, Freckle Films. As a part of this announcement, Chastain has also entered into a First Look deal with Maven Pictures’ Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray. Together, the two companies have already optioned two novels for adaptation: The Magician’s Lie, the story of a famous female illusionist who is accused of murder when her husband’s dead body mysteriously appears in one of her stage props, as well as Life and Other Near-Death Experiences, the story of a woman who discovers that she has cancer and that her husband is gay all on the same day, prompting her to escape her life and travel to South America. It is unclear whether or not Chastain will choose to play either of these roles herself, but it does seem clear that Freckle Films will aim to lessen the disparity in female roles within the film industry.

In a released statement, Chastain commented,

I’m excited to launch Freckle Films, and I can’t imagine a better production partner than Maven Pictures. Trudie and Celine are not only both highly experienced and successful producers, but the projects they’ve created demonstrate their tenacious dedication to strong characters and compelling stories that clearly resonate with audiences. It’s an honor to work with them, as well as their company, one that mirrors many of the goals that I aspire to achieve with Freckle Films.

Maven’s other upcoming releases include Wildling with breakout actress Bel Powley (Diary of a Teenage Girl) and Liv Tyler (HBO’s The Leftovers), while Chastain will be starring in Woman Walks Ahead and the gun control lobbying drama Miss Sloane.

We will have more on Molly’s Game and future Freckle Films releases as new information becomes available.