According to Deadline, Jessica Chastain has signed on to portray graphic novel character ‘Painkiller Jane’ in the upcoming film adaptation. Lotus Entertainment and Solipsist Films will be bringing the character to life. This will be the first large scale adaptation of Painkiller Jane, as the graphic novel has previously been made into a Syfy Original Movie in 2005, as well as a television series in 2007 on the same channel, which lasted one season at 22 episodes.
The title character ‘Painkiller Jane’, otherwise known as Jane Vasko, is a cop who is undercover infiltrating the mob inner circles, until an accident leaves her with life-threatening injuries. She finds herself able to recover due to unnatural regeneration abilities, and with this newfound ability, the indestructible heroine departs her life in law enforcement for one vigilantism.
The comic book was created in 1995 for Event Comics by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. Originally a five-issue mini-series, the character ‘Painkiller Jane’ went on to feature in numerous crossover books along with characters such as The Darkness, Darkchylde, Vampirella, and Hellboy. Palmiotti has has also written for Deadpool, Jonah Hex, Punisher and is currently writing Harley Quinn for DC Comics. Another one of Palmiotti’s graphic novels, Monilith, is currently being developed at Lionsgate and to be directed by Dave Wilson.
Lotus Entertainment will produce this upcoming film. Their recent credits include Hologram for the King with Tom Hanks, Z for Zachariah with Chris Pine and Margot Robbie and upcoming Kidnap with Halle Berry.
Along with Lotus Entertainment’s Lenny Beckerman, Solipsist Films’ Stephen L’Heureux and Chastain through her Freckle Films banner will serve as producers. Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, Ara Keshishian, and Jimmy Palmiotti will serve as executive producers.
Chastain can next be seen in Miss Sloane being released this month. Next year she will be featured in leading roles in historical dramas The Zookeeper’s Wife and Women Walks Ahead, as well as drama The Death and Life of John F. Donovan with Natalie Portman. She has also signed on to star in Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game with Idris Elba and Kevin Costner, to be released in 2017, as well as sci-fi action film The Division with Jake Gyllenhaal, to be released in 2018.