Coming close to death gave her the power to be unstoppable. New York City police officer Jane Vasko was nearly killed while undercover, but she bounced back as the vengeful Painkiller Jane in the comic book series of the same name. While a film adaptation has been in the works for quite some time, it now looks like Jessica Chastain will bring the lead role to life.

Deadline reports that Chastain is set to produce and play the starring role in Painkiller Jane. Producing the project alongside Chastain's Freckle Films will be Lotus Entertainment and Solipsist Films, with Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, Ara Keshishian and Jimmy Palmiotti on board as executive producers (Palmiotti also co-wrote the comic book series with Joe Quesada).

Back in 2014, it was reported that Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary, See No Evil 2) were signed on to direct Painkiller Jane. Although Deadline did not include any comments about the Soska sisters' continued involvement, we'll keep Daily Dead readers posted on further details.

Painkiller Jane has been adapted twice before by the Syfy Channel, first in the 2005 TV movie starring Emmanuelle Vaugier and then as a TV series in 2007 that featured Kristanna Loken and was canceled after one season.

Created by Palmiotti and Quesada for Event Comics in 1995, Painkiller Jane was later relaunched by Dynamite Entertainment. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, and take a look at the comic's synopsis (via Amazon) and one of its cover art pieces (via Dynamite):

"Jane Vasko was an undercover police officer attempting to infiltrate a major New York city drug ring. After gaining the trust of dealers, her cover was unknowingly blown and she was forced drugged into a coma. Jane remained in secrecy as a Jane Doe until one day she awoke to a world where nothing was the same. Infused somehow during her fitful sleep with strange powers, Jane has nothing left to lose and a whole lot of people to make pay for what they've done..."

Source: Deadline
  • Derek Anderson
    About the Author - Derek Anderson

    Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.

    When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.