Jessica Chastain to topline "Woman Walks Ahead" period drama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Jessica Chastain takes a role in period drama about Sioux chieftain Sitting Bull. The Oscar-nominated actress is to portray 19th-century artist and activist from New York named Caroline Weldon in "Woman Walks Ahead", AceShowbiz reports.

Directed by Susanna White, the film follows Weldon who moved to the Dakota Territory in 1889 and worked with the National Indian Defense Association to help Sitting Bull protect Sioux land from the U.S. government. Weldon served as an adviser and translator for Sitting Bull who did not speak English. She worked with him until he was killed by Indian agency police.

For her unusual qualities, the Indians called Weldon "Toka heya mani win" or "Woman Walks Ahead". The media also deemed her "Sitting Bull's white squaw".

While Deadline reported that she was still "in talks" for the role, Chastain confirmed her involvement via Twitter. She provided a link to the casting story and wrote, "Yep I am xx." The film's script is written by "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight. No release date is announced yet.