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Painkiller Jane: Jessica Chastain producing and starring in reboot of superhero film

'In a near death experience, Jane develops exceptional regenerative abilities'

Jack Shepherd
Friday 11 November 2016 12:37 GMT
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For over a decade, Hollywood has been pumping out superhero films with an ever increasing frequency.

While critics are often harsh on the genre, the general public seemingly loves actors in spandex: five of the top 10 highest grossing films centred on superheroes.

With Marvel looking to up their output to three films a year and Warner Bros. having numerous DC projects in development, other studios want to cash in on the phenomena.

Earlier this year, Dolphin Films and Mattel attempted to launch their Max Steel franchise: despite featuring a superpowered individual, the film was a huge flop at the US box office.

Undeterred, Jessica Chastain has announced she will star in and produce Painkiller Jane, based on the comic book heroine created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada.

According to Deadline, who broke the news, Chastain’s character Jane Vasko is “a New York City street cop who gets recruited by the FBI to infiltrate a major NYC drug and human trafficking ring.

“In a near death experience, Jane develops exceptional regenerative abilities that give her a unique indestructible advantage. With nothing to live for and no way to die, Painkiller Jane becomes an unstoppable force of nature seeking revenge to those who destroyed her life as she leaves a path of death and destruction in her wake.”

Previously, the graphic novel was adapted into a TV series featuring Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3) while a film was also made, Emmanuelle Vaugier (Smallville) as the lead.

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