Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain will no longer appear in Xavier Dolan's upcoming film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.
Dolan confirmed his decision to cut the actor's role from the upcoming project in an Instagram post, explaining that it "has nothing to do with her performance, and everything to do with a character, and the compatibility of its storyline."
The Canadian director went on to explain that the initial cut of the movie clocked in at more than four hours, requiring some serious narrative editing.
Chastain apparently portrayed a villainous journalist character in a subplot of the film, which Dolan described as "funny and entertaining" but ultimately "didn't feel like it belonged to the rest of the story."
Dolan did, however, also express his love and admiration for Chastain.
"Jessica has, since the very beginning, defended this project, and defended me on so many occasions," he wrote. "She is a terrific actress, a politically engaged artist, what is more, who relentlessly champions the causes she believes in. She is respected by her peers, and beloved by her public."
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan tells the story of a young man reflecting on his childhood correspondence with the titular American TV star. Still slated to appear in the final version of the film are Kit Harrington, Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Ben Schnetzer and Jacob Tremblay.
Read Dolan's complete message about the upcoming film below.
Dolan confirmed his decision to cut the actor's role from the upcoming project in an Instagram post, explaining that it "has nothing to do with her performance, and everything to do with a character, and the compatibility of its storyline."
The Canadian director went on to explain that the initial cut of the movie clocked in at more than four hours, requiring some serious narrative editing.
Chastain apparently portrayed a villainous journalist character in a subplot of the film, which Dolan described as "funny and entertaining" but ultimately "didn't feel like it belonged to the rest of the story."
Dolan did, however, also express his love and admiration for Chastain.
"Jessica has, since the very beginning, defended this project, and defended me on so many occasions," he wrote. "She is a terrific actress, a politically engaged artist, what is more, who relentlessly champions the causes she believes in. She is respected by her peers, and beloved by her public."
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan tells the story of a young man reflecting on his childhood correspondence with the titular American TV star. Still slated to appear in the final version of the film are Kit Harrington, Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Ben Schnetzer and Jacob Tremblay.
Read Dolan's complete message about the upcoming film below.
