Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell face to face in Miss Julie

Variety has revealed that Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain will play the lead in an adaptation of a play by Swedish author August Strindberg.

Variety has revealed that Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain will play the lead in an adaptation of a play by Swedish author August Strindberg.

Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton will also feature in this production by Norwegian Liv Ullman, Ingmar Bergman's former muse. Michelle Williams, who was announced as the lead last June, will now be replaced by Jessica Chastain.

Miss Julie, which was first performed at the end of the 19th century, tells the story of the relationship between whimsical future countess Julie and Jean, her father's prickly valet. Their affair, which was forbidden by convention, came to a tragic end.

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Liv Ullman's adaptation is likely to be set in England rather than Sweden.