Mike Fleming

Thursday, February 2, 2012 – Santa Monica…. Academy Award®-nominee Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Tree of Life) and Joel Edgerton (Warrior, Wish You Were Here) have signed on to star in a double-feature film project for Myriad Pictures: The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Hers.

The love story explores a New York City couple’s relationship during a difficult time in their marriage, from the different perspective of the husband, (Edgerton), a restaurant owner, and of the wife (Chastain), who goes back to college. Academy Award® ‐ winner and 5-time nominee William Hurt (The Kiss of the Spider Woman, Syriana) is in discussion to join the cast.

Ned Benson (In Defiance of Gravity) wrote the two scripts and will direct both films. Cassandra Kulukundis (A Late Quartet, In Defiance of Gravity) is producing. Kulukundis is also Casting Director (There Will Be Blood, Shattered Glass).

Kirk D’Amico, CEO of Myriad Pictures, is excited to be bringing the project to Berlin next week. “Ned has created rich and engaging characters. They are complex, and it is unique to have two different scripts to tell the story. It doesn’t matter which script you read first, you absolutely want to read the other perspective.”

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby also represents an alternate approach to content, which D’Amico feels is relevant with the changing distribution models. “It is possible to consider making films in a completely different way than the single production method one film at a time. We’re intrigued also to work with our distributors to discover what kind of releasing and promotional options may arise.”

But both films will be stand-alone movies. D’Amico added, “We have to make both films work on their own, both for the buyers but also for the audiences. Together these films will describe a fully, more complete look at these characters and their lives.”

The deal for Myriad was negotiated by Senior Vice President of Business Affairs David Ducar and Director of Acquisitions and Production Ari Haas, and Alan Grodin for the producers.