JESSICA CHASTAIN AND ANNE HATHAWAY TO STAR IN “MOTHERS’ INSTINCT”

LOS ANGELES, LONDON, PARIS: (October 29, 2020): – Academy Award® Nominee Jessica Chastain and Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway, will star in the psychological thriller, MOTHERS’ INSTINCT, from writer and director, Olivier Masset-DepasseMasset-Depasse (ILLEGAL) is set to direct the English language re-make MOTHERS’ INSTINCT from his critically acclaimed 2018 film, DUELLES, which won a record-breaking 9 Magritte Awards from the Belgian Academy including Best Film and Best Director. The film is based on the novel “Derrière la Haine” by novelist Barbara Abel. Writer Sarah Conradt (50 States of Fright) is adapting the English language script.

Set in the early ‘60s, best friends and neighbors Alice (Chastain) and Celine (Hathaway) both live an idyllic traditional lifestyle with manicured lawns, successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond and a psychological battle of wills begins as the maternal instinct reveals its darker side.

MOTHERS’ INSTINCT is being produced by Jessica Chastain and Kelly Carmichael of Chastain’s Freckle Films (THE 355, THE DIVISION), and Paul Nelson at Mosaic (UNDER MY SKIN, THE OTHER GUYS) and Jacques-Henri Bronckart (DUELLES, THE NUN).  Producer and financier Anton will fully finance and executive produce the project with Anton’s Founder and CEO Sébastien Raybaud overseeing the project with John Zois, Anton’s EVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions, who negotiated the deal with CAA. CAA Media Finance arranged the film’s financing and is representing the project’s domestic rights alongside Anton. Anton’s President of International Production and Distribution, Cecile Gaget, will launch worldwide sales on the film at the upcoming 2020 AFM in November.

Writer and director, Olivier Masset-Depasse stated: “It takes actors of Jessica and Anne’s caliber to communicate the intricacy of these two roles.  The relationship between a mother and child is the most powerful connection between two human beings.  When this bond is severed, it calls into question conventional morality and even sanity. In the behind-closed-doors atmosphere of 1960’s America, Mothers’ Instinct becomes a terrifying, high-pressure powder keg.” Anton Founder and CEO, SébastienRaybaud commented: “Audiences could not wish for a more dynamic match-up on screen. Both character roles are wonderfully complex and will showcase Jessica and Anne’s incredible breadth of talent. Olivier has already proven adept at this twist on the Hitchcock-ian genre and we have great faith in his ability to deliver a compelling thriller.” 

Two-time Academy Award® nominee, and multiple award winner Jessica Chastain will next be seen in THE 355, an international spy thriller based on an original idea by Chastain for her production company Freckle Films. She recently began production opposite Oscar Isaac on SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, an adaption of Ingmar Bergman’s 1970s miniseries for HBO. Chastain recently wrapped a Freckle Films’ production of THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE opposite Andrew Garfield. Principal photography also recently concluded in Morocco on THE FORGIVEN based on the acclaimed novel by Lawrence Osborne, in which she stars opposite Ralph Fiennes. Chastain will shortly play music legend Tammy Wynette in the limited series GEORGE & TAMMY opposite Josh Brolin. In 2019, she starred in the global box hit sequel IT CHAPTER 2, and prior to that in the X-MEN franchise, X-MEN: DARK, Aaron Sorkin’s MOLLY’S GAME which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.  Previous features include WOMAN WALKS AHEAD, THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE, and MISS SLOANE which garnered her Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama. Prior to that she starred in the critically acclaimed A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY, MISS JULIE, and INTERSTELLAR.  Chastain has starred in Terrence Malick’s Academy Award® nominated drama TREE OF LIFE opposite Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, THE DEBT, TAKE SHELTER, ZERO DARK 30, and THE HELP for which she was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actress, also receiving a Golden Globe nomination, Screen Actors Guild nomination and Critics’ Choice nomination.  She made her Broadway debut in revival of “The Heiress” in 2012. Chastain launched Freckle Films, a New York based film and television production company, in 2016. Jessica Chastain is represented by CAA, Paul Nelson at Mosaic, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman, and Imprint PR. 

Academy Award-winning® actor, Anne Hathaway (LES MISERABLES) is also a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe winner and one of the highest-grossing international box office stars today. Hathaway initially charmed international audiences with her role in the Disney comedy, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, before going on to receive critical acclaim for her performance in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, as well as the international box office hit THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.  She also earned an Academy Award® nomination for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED. Hathaway’s performance in LES MISERABLES earned her an OSCAR, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG award for best supporting actress. Her effortless ability to traverse genres has seen her star in a variety of roles including in: BRIDE WARS, VALENTINE’S DAY, LOVE & OTHER DRUGS, THE INTERN, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, COLOSSAL and DARK WATERS.   She can currently be seen starring in Roald Dahl’s classic book THE WITCHES directed by Robert Zemeckis. Upcoming features include SESAME STREET and LOCKDOWN.  Anne Hathaway is represented by CAA, Suzan Bymel at Management 360, and by Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. 

Belgian film director and screenwriter, Olivier Masset-Depasse, made his feature-length debut in 2006 with CAGES. In 2010, he wrote and directed the Director’s Fortnight SACD Award-winning feature ILLEGAL, which premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim from film festivals worldwide and was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2011 Academy Awards as well as being nominated for the César for the Best Foreign Film category. The film also won the SACD Prize at Director’s Fortnight in Cannes and a Fipresci prize for Best Actress at the Palm Springs Film Festival. His follow up feature, DUELLES, premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival in the Special Presentations section.  Olivier Masset-Depasse is represented by UTA, Paul Nelson and Jeremy Berney at Mosaic, and Goodman, GenowSchenkmanSmelkinson & Christopher. 

Screenwriter Sarah Conradt’s recently wrote an episode of Sam Rami / Quibi’s 50 STATES OF FRIGHT, directed by Lee Cronin. She previously wrote the thrillers ENIGMA for Focus Features, VENGEANCE for Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp, and HOME INVASION for Bad Robot and Paramount. She is represented by Abram Nalibotsky and Danny Toth at The Gersh Agency, Sukee Chew at Hopscotch Pictures, and Annie Lee at Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown.