Naomi Watts Replaces Jessica Chastain As Princess Diana in Caught in Flight
Oscar nominee would play the late Princess in Oliver Hirschbiegel's (Downfall) controversial biopic.
Naomi Watts has replaced Jessica Chastain as Princess Diana in Caught in Flight, a biopic from Ecosse Films that is seeking distribution at the sales market out in Berlin right now. The film focuses on the post-Charles divorce years from 1995 and up to Dianas death in 1997 and her secret affair with Dr. Hasnat Khan, regarded by some to be the true love of her life. The relationship came before she dated Dodi Fayed, and some speculate (as they do about all aspects of her life) that she rebounded with the son of the billionaire as a way to make Hasnat jealous as she was devastated their relationship ended so abruptly. Written by The Libertine scribe Steven Jeffreys, Caught in Flight would be directed by German filmmaker Oliver Hirschbiegel, no stranger to controversial biopics having made the definitive portrayal of Adolf Hitler on screen with Downfall. Jeffreys script portrays the former Princess Royal as a damaged person who stalks the doctor after he ends the affair and she is not cast in a particularly favorable light. Tree of Lie actress Chastain has pulled out over scheduling but she had told press back in December that she had niggling doubts about leading such a controversial film. "when you're playing a real person you have to be absolutely aware and educated as you can be on their life and that you're telling the right story in the right way. So all of us involved in this projects are looking to make sure that if and when it happens, it will be with great respect... it's a huge risk, which makes me want to do it more, but I also want to make sure it's the right story." Backers Ecosse Films (Wuthering Heights, Nowhere Boy) hope the $15 million film can shoot in the summer with Pakistan, Angola, the South of France and Paris set as shooting locations. The latter probably means the film will touch upon that night in Paris. Naomi Watts said; 'It is such an honour to be able to play this iconic role - Princess Diana was loved across the world, and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen.' Director, Oliver Hirschbiegel commented: I am delighted to have such a truly exceptional actress who embodies the warmth, humanity and empathy of such a global icon as Princess Diana. With the success this year of The Iron Lady and the Oscar nomination for Meryl Streep's portrayal of Maggie Thatcher, we don't think this film will have too much trouble finding distribution. This is actually the third Diana biopic in the works right now. Producer Stephen Evans is trying to get a $30 million adaptation of Dianas lifelong bodyguard Ken Wharfes book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret into production with Charlize Theron and Ewan McGregor but has had no luck in the past year. Meanwhile Pathé films have for a long time wanted Keira Knightley to take on a much broader biopic of the late Princess but Knightley was smart enough to do The Duchess instead (about a Diana like figure of yesteryear) and has been stalling on offers for years. source - Deadline