Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain and rising Australian star Joel Edgerton have signed on to The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: His and The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: Hers – a double project that will shoot back-to-back offering alternate perspectives from the male and female protagonists.

William Hurt is in talks to join the love story, which follows a troubled New York marriage between a restaurant owner and his wife, who chooses to return to college. Chastain earned an Acadmey Award nomination last week for The Help and recently starred in The Tree Of Life and Take Shelte. Edgerton starred in Warrior and SUndnce entry Wish You Were Here and plays Tom Buchanoan opposite Leo DiCaprio in Baz Lurhmann’s upcoming The Great Gatsby.

Ned Benson wrote the two scripts and will direct both films, which are conceived as stand-alone entities although Myriad CEO Kirk D’Amico stressed that both titles together would offer a more satisying exploration of the character. Cassandra Kulukundis is producing.

“Ned has created rich and engaging characters,” D’Amico said. “They are complex, and it is unique to have two different scripts to tell the story. It doesn’t matter which script you read first; you absolutely want to read the other perspective.

“It is possible to consider making films in a completely different way than the single production method one film at a time. We’re intrigued also to work with our distributors to discover what kind of releasing and promotional options may arise.”

Myriad svp of business affairs David Ducar and director of acquisitions and production Ari Haas negotiated the deal with Alan Grodin for the producers.

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