Much like the other video game franchises that bear his name, Tom Clancy's The Division was a hit almost instantly. So big of a hit that a film adaptation was such a no-brainer, and able to attract Jake Gyllenhaal to kick some ass in the name of New York City. Now, another A-list bad-ass is looking to join the cause, and she's a pretty formidable co-star. If this latest news pans out, Jessica Chastain will be gearing up with The Division.
The Hollywood Reporter scooped the news, as Chastain is in talks to join the video game adaptation that's currently preparing itself to be shopped around Hollywood, in hopes of finding a studio home. Tom Clancy's The Division tells the story of a counter-terrorist organization made up of various law enforcement and first responder members, and the battle they wage on the streets of New York after a devastating viral outbreak. With society and order in the balance, the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain may be two of the people trying to set things right is a very comforting thought.
In fact, the moment we read that Chastain was in line to join Tom Clancy's The Division, we couldn't help but have flashbacks to her role in Zero Dark Thirty. While that film was a more sober look at counter-terrorism ops, Jessica Chastain put in an amazing performance that saw her hunting down Osama bin Laden over the course of almost a decade. So the skills involved in hunting the world's most dangerous real-life terrorist have more than prepared her for a more sensational threat.
Tom Clancy's The Division may not have a studio home, but it's a safe bet that 20th Century Fox would be seen as the potential home for Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain's possible franchise starter. Should Assassin's Creed prove to be the success that the studio is hoping it will be, there's a distinct possibility that the entire Ubisoft stable of Assassin's Creed, Tom Clancy's The Division, and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell could wind up all going into production at the hallowed halls of Fox.
Then again, with Assassin's Creed being seen as an unknown quantity, it may be wiser to shop the project elsewhere. As soon as any new information is made available, we'll let you know first! In the meantime, you'll next be able to see Jessica Chastain in Miss Sloane, on December 9th, in limited release.
