Today, Universal Pictures announced that Michael Showalter would direct their upcoming holiday comedy movie starring Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer. The studio won the rights to the untitled pitch from Chastain’s Freckle Films after a bidding war with Fox and Paramount. Fast-tracking the project, Chastain and Spencer will play two women fighting the odds to make it home in time for Christmas.
The original treatment for the project was written by Chastain and Kelly Carmichael. Peter Chiarelli, known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians, has been added to the project as the screenwriter. Chastain and Carmichael will produce the holiday romp under the Freckle Films banner along with Maven Picture, Celine Rattray, and Trudie Styler.
This isn’t the first time Chastain has produced a feature project. Her producer credits include The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby and The Zookeeper’s Wife. Additionally, she is slated as a producer on Seducing Ingrid Bergman and Painkiller Jane.
Recently, Showalter directed the indie comedy The Big Sick, as well as episodes of TV series such as Love, Grace and Frankie, and Search Party. Previously, the comedic actor has stepped in front of the camera the original Wet Hot American Summer movie, along with its follow-up series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later.
This is the second time Chastain and Spencer have worked together on a movie. Their performances in the 2011 movie adaption of The Help, both actors received Oscar nominations, and Spencer went home with a coveted statuette.
At this time, there is no release date set for the holiday comedy.