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“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Jessica Chastain is dabbling in religious scandal by producing and starring in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” for Fox Searchlight, based on the documentary of the same name. Long before megachurches were sprinkled across America and before cable packages included 24-hour Christian networks, there was the televangelist. And before the landscape broadened and evolved to digital platforms, there was Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. While some might first think of corruption or Tammy Faye’s penchant for heavy makeup, the couple were previously the face of the American religious movement. Espousing love and moral values in the name of Christ, their reputation for having the perfect life crumbled after it was revealed that their squeaky-clean image was nothing more than a cover for their dark secrets. Sexual assault accusations and financial corruption all followed, leveling the empire the couple had created. The story will show the rise and fall of the televangelists. The film, cast by Avy Kaufman, will also star Andrew Garfield. Production is set to begin in late October in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“Bruised”
Halle Berry is getting ready to step into the famed octagon for the fight of a lifetime. “Bruised,” which has been rolling around in development for years, has finally locked down some of its main players, with Berry producing, starring, and making her directorial debut. Cast by Avy Kaufman, the story will follow a mother reuniting with the son she abandoned. Returning to her roots as a fierce MMA fighter, she agrees to take on one last match to redeem her name. Facing off against a young and aggressive fighter, the battle forces her to confront her inner demons, her past fights, and her failures as an absent mother. Production is set to start at the beginning of November and continue through the winter. New York will host the shoot.
“The Good House”
A new film based on Ann Leary’s best-selling novel of the same name is a story about triumph, denial, and addiction. A woman tries to piece her life back together after her alcoholism threatens to unravel her perfectly compartmentalized world. Despite being engulfed in denial, the successful New England real estate agent puts herself on the road to recovery. Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep were originally cast in the lead roles; those spots are now rumored to be occupied by Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline, though no official word on the casting has been released. Additional roles have yet to be filled by Laura Rosenthal Casting. The film is set to start production in late September in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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This story originally appeared in the September 26 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.