'Caught In Flight': Naomi Watts To Play Princess Diana In New Film

Naomi Watts

First Posted: 02/ 9/2012 8:07 am Updated: 02/ 9/2012 8:07 am

Apparently Jessica Chastain can't star in every movie. Late in 2011, Thompson on Hollywood reported that Chastain was attached to star in "Caught in Flight," a new drama about the last two years of Princess Diana's life.

"There's some talks about that," Chastain told E! on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in January, "but next I'm going to Kathryn Bigelow's new film."

About that: Ecosse Films has announced that Naomi Watts, not Chastain, will star as the late princess in "Flight," with production scheduled to begin shooting later this year.

"It is such an honor to be able to play this iconic role -- Princess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen," Watts said in a statement.

When it was first discussed last year, "Flight" -- which comes from "Downfall" director Oliver Hirschbiegel -- was set to focus on Diana's long-time love affair with Dr. Hasnat Kahn, the "love of her life." There's no mention of Kahn in the new reports, however "Caught in Flight" will apparently show "how finding true personal happiness for the first time allowed [Princess Di] to evolve into a major international campaigner and humanitarian."

As for Chastain, this is hardly a setback: the Oscar-nominated actress is set to co-star in Bigelow's untitled drama about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and was recently cast with Joel Edgerton in "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," an ambitious project that tells the story of a relationship, from both its sides, over the course of two films. She's also planning to lead "The Heiress" on Broadway.

Watts was last seen playing J. Edgar Hoover's faithful secretary in "J. Edgar."

[via Variety]

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Apparently Jessica Chastain can't star in every movie. Late in 2011, Thompson on Hollywood reported that Chastain was attached to star in "Caught in Flight," a new drama about the last two years of Pr...
Apparently Jessica Chastain can't star in every movie. Late in 2011, Thompson on Hollywood reported that Chastain was attached to star in "Caught in Flight," a new drama about the last two years of Pr...
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skyeagle
R.I.N.O.
10:10 PM on 02/09/2012
I am amazed and gladdened by the kindness and warm feelings we Americans have for the young British royalty. Princess Diana and Duchess of Cambridge are both delightful, charming, and human. Totally unlike our "roylaty" here (Hollywood starlets). This is one place the Brits have it over us.
07:31 PM on 02/09/2012
Couldn't they find an actress either in America or Britain that at least SOMEWHAT resembles the late Princess Diana? This one looks like a cross between a paper doll and a toothpaste ad. Diana would have hated it.

And I hope it's not one of those exploitative tabloid-type films...we've had enough of those.
07:07 PM on 02/09/2012
I just hope this film is done in good taste.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rosiesgal29
07:00 PM on 02/09/2012
she diesnt have the eyes for the role
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savantpm
06:17 PM on 02/09/2012
I'm older and woke up early before going to work, on July 30, 1981, to watch the royal wedding of Charles and Diana. This actress looks NOTHING like Diana!
06:14 PM on 02/09/2012
She's cute....I liked her in KIng Kong.
05:52 PM on 02/09/2012
Isn't she a bit old to be playing Diana?
05:15 PM on 02/09/2012
It is nice that they are doing another film on Diana. She did more than any other Royal every did. She went places. She really hates the camera. Where she went they went also. We got to see things that the news never gets to cover.
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baydolphins
Gone crazy...back soon
04:47 PM on 02/09/2012
there is absolutely nothing about her that says Princess Diana to me
04:00 PM on 02/09/2012
Breaking News;

This just in. Alfred E. Newman will be playing Prince Charles.
05:52 PM on 02/09/2012
Now THAT would be good casting!!!
03:45 PM on 02/09/2012
I guess Ellen Degeneres was busy?
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algonquin j calhoun
with every 100 fans I change my name
02:41 PM on 02/09/2012
fortunately for watts, it takes absolutely zero acting ability to play diana
03:48 PM on 02/09/2012
Far from it, Diana was one of the world's best unknown (at the time) actresses.
04:21 PM on 02/09/2012
Naomi Watts is a good actress.
07:40 PM on 02/11/2012
I know how to spell, that was a typo. I don't know that you are a critic, but you sure as hell do not know how to write.
04:18 PM on 02/09/2012
That is not nice.
02:37 PM on 02/09/2012
Naomi is perfect...beautiful just like Princess Diana.
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02:29 PM on 02/09/2012
Hasnat Kahn was the one Diana loved deeply.. he is still alive and is a heart surgeon. She was with Dodi to make Kahn jealous because he broke up with her....

Hasnat Kahn it was reported did not want the limelight that would be associated with marrying Diana but reports are he loved her. Diana even wore surgical clothes and witnessed a heart operation to learn more about hs profession and impress him.

There's something on you tube that was so interesting. This man really examined all of this and is convnced she was murdered.... Of course I know there are so many conspiracy theories out that but this one was really detailed...

This man drove his car from the scene of the crash and did it during rainy weather and lots of traffic to make it purposefully difficult. The drive tool him 11 minutes, folks...Two reports say it took much much longer. One says one hour and a half. The other an hour and 45 minutes..... Witnesses said they saw an ambulance parked under an over pass. It was just sitting there in the dark that night with the curtains drawn. Conclusion.---They either were letting her die or they were killing her, cutting up her organs the report says... They also embalmed her immediatly which is against French law. Therefore no proof.

The whole thing is very weird to say the least but who knows..
03:03 PM on 02/09/2012
Wow, you sure are a disillusioned person stating this bs.
03:25 PM on 02/09/2012
I've wondered that too. I know the French do things differently but you would think that in any country getting a severely injured person to a hospital as quickly as possible would be a priority.
03:47 PM on 02/09/2012
The French have a "mini ER" in every ambulance, and their success rate is higher than any other country in the world. Getting an injured person stabilized is the priority.
02:23 PM on 02/09/2012
I've seen that movie already. Bad ending