Idris Elba, Jessica Chastain in Talks to Lead MOLLY'S GAME Movie, Directed by Aaron Sorkin

Stage and screen vets Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain are in talks to lead playwright and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut MOLLY'S GAME, based on Molly Pope's high-stakes poker memoir.

Variety reports that Chastain would take on the starring role of 'Molly Bloom', described as "a world-class skier who, after failing to make the Olympics, took a year off before law school and accepted a job as a waitress in Los Angeles. She put her entrepreneurial skills to good use and eventually found her way into running high-stakes poker games for Hollywood's elite for eight years before the FBI brought her down."

No word on what part Elba would play in the film.

Sorkin is also writing the script for Sony based on Bloom's memoir. Mark Gordon and Amy Pascal will produce.

Elba was last seen in Netflix's BEASTS OF NO NATION and Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK as THE VOICE of Shere Khan. He will soon appear in the big screen adaptation of THE DARK TOWER, as well as THE MOUNTAINS BETWEEN US and STAR TREK BEYOND. The actor has taken the stage in TROILUS AND CRESSIDA off-Broadway.

Chastain's recent film credits include THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR, CRIMSON PEAK, THE MARTIAN and INTERSTELLAR. She will soon be seen in THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE and MISS SLOANE. The actress made her Broadway debut in 2012's THE HEIRESS.

Sorkin is an Academy- and Emmy Award-winning American screenwriter, producer, and playwright, whose works include A FEW GOOD MEN, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, THE WEST WING, CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, MONEYBALL and THE NEWSROOM.

Photo by Walter McBride

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