Pitt, Chastain climb ‘Tree of Life’

The Thin Red Line director Terrance Malick has picked up Brad Pitt to replace now-deceased actor Heath Ledger in the drama Tree of Life. Variety reports that Pitt stars opposite film newcomer Jessica Chastain with Sean Penn in a supporting role.

‘Tree of Life’ is more like ‘Depressing Tree of Life’. The film involves a child’s loss of innocence but that’s as much as the producers, Bill Pohlad and Sarah Green, are willing to squeak out. ‘Tree of Life’ is financed by River Road Entertainment and has begun shooting in Texas.

Pitt, Penn-they’re old news. But who is this Chastain girl? Coming off mainly television roles in the past couple of years, Chastain is venturing into Hollywood’s shark-infested waters and is raising her profile with every new credit. A former stage actress, Chastain stars with Al Pacino in this year’s Salomaybe and in Don Ireland’s new feature Jolene. Here she is featured on the poster one-sheet for the film.