Naomi Watts Replaces Jessica Chastain in Princess Diana Biopic

By  · Published on February 9th, 2012

It looks like Naomi Watts is slowly turning into the go-to girl to play tragic female figures with sunshiny locks. Watts has long been attached to play Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik’s adaptation of author Joyce Carol Oates’ fictional take on the star in Blonde, though that project has been chattered about for so long with no firm details on shooting or production that it’s not shocking that Watts has now padded her schedule with another biopic.

This one is titled Caught in Flight, and it will chronicle the last two years of Princess Diana’s life. Jessica Chastain was first attached to play the role of Diana, during that mad rush to sign the up-and-comer to just about every film that would have her, but she’s now out (possibly due to, shock of all shocks, a too-full schedule), and Watts is in.

The film will be directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) and comes from a screenplay by Stephen Jeffreys (an award-winning playwright whose only film credit includes his adaptation of his own play, The Libertine, back in 2004). The film will focus “on the last two years of the Princess’ life and charts how finding true personal happiness for the first time allowed her to evolve into a major international campaigner and humanitarian.”

While Chastain is a very talented actress, she did seem a bit too young and green for the role, while Watts suits the role much better, both appearance and experience-wise. [Variety, via HeyUGuys]