Jessica Chastain in Talks to Lead ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE

The Hollywood Reporter reports exclusively that Jessica Chastain is currently in talks to star in Niki Caro's upcoming drama THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE. The project is an adaptation of Diane Ackerman's 2007 best-selling novel of the same name.

The World War II saga is a true account of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, zookeepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who helped save hundreds of lives during the Nazi invasion by smuggling Jews into empty cages. According to the report, "while danger was always present, and her husband was part of the Polish resistance, Antonina Zabinski kept a mix of humans and surviving animals (lynxes and hyena pups, among them) humming in a one-of-a-kind community that included socializing and even the occasional piano concert."

Chastain recently made her Broadway debut in the revival of 'The Heiress' opposite Dan Stevens. She has received major accolades for her roles in films like Ralph Fiennes' CORIOLANUS, John Madden's THE DEBT, John Hillcoat's LAWLESS, Jeff Nichols' TAKE SHELTER, Terrence Malick's THE TREE OF LIFE and Tate Taylor's THE HELP (for which she received her first nomination last year for an Academy Award).

She was recently seen on the big screen in Andrés Muschietti's MAMA and Katherine Bigelow's Academy Award nominated film, Zero Dark Thirty (for which she recently won Best Actress at the National Board of Review, the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and for which she was nominated for Best Actress for the upcoming Academy Awards).

The actress will next be seen in Liv Ullmann's adaptation of August Strindberg's MISS JULIE.