Andrew Garfieldis set to joinJessica Chastainin Fox Searchlight’s televangelist dramaThe Eyes of Tammy Faye, Collider has confirmed.
Michael Showalter(The Big Sick) is set to direct from a script byAbe Sylvia(Dirty Girl), and the film is based onFenton BaileyandRandy Barbato’s acclaimed documentary of the same name. Chastain andKelly Carmichaelwill produce via their Freckle Films banner along withGigi PritzkerandRachel Shaneof MWM Studios. Showalter’s producing partner,Jordana Mollick(Hello, My Name is Doris) will serve as an executive producing.
Garfield and Chastain will playJimand Tammy Faye Bakker, who were televangelists who in the 1970s and ’80s rose from humble beginnings to create the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and a theme park. The duo were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity, but it wasn’t long before financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and a sex scandal tore their marriage apart and toppled their carefully constructed empire.
Garfield is coming off ofUnder the Silver Lake, which fizzled at the box office but will surely live on as a cult classic in certain corners of Film Twitter. The formerAmazing Spider-Manstar recently won a Tony for his work on Broadway inAngels in America. He also recently signed on to play pianistJames Marshin the indie dramaInstrumental, which is being sold at Cannes.
Chastain next stars inX-Men: Dark PhoenixandIt: Chapter Two, whichunveiled its first traileron Thursday. She has also wrappedTate Taylor’s upcoming revenge filmEve.
Best known for directingThe Big Sick, Showalter recently wrapped the upcoming Paramount comedyThe LovebirdsstarringKumail NanjianiandIssa Rae. He’s already working with Chastain in a holiday comedy for Universal that will co-starOctavia Spencer.
CAA represents Garfield and Chastain, who’s also repped by Mosaic. Showalter is repped by UTA and Artists First. The news was first reported byVariety.
