Jessica Chastain reflects on filming in Wilmington ahead of new Netflix movie ‘Heartland’

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain is returning to the world of country music in her new Netflix film, “Heartland.” But while promoting the movie in New York City, she also had some kind words for a place she knows well: Wilmington, North Carolina.

WWAY’s Matt Bennett traveled to Manhattan for a special screening of the film at the Metrograph theater on Thursday, Nov. 5, followed by interviews with Chastain, the cast, and writer-director Shana Feste the following morning.

“Heartland” follows Misty Jones, a former country music superstar who comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her niece, Charlie Heart, an up-and-coming country singer.

The mystery thriller brings together country music, suspense, and a cast that includes Garrett Hedlund, Ross Lynch, and country singer Carter Faith.

Jessica Chastain returns to country music

For Chastain, the role marks a return to familiar territory after portraying legendary country singer Tammy Wynette in the series “George & Tammy,” which was filmed in the Wilmington area.

Asked what initially attracted her to “Heartland,” Chastain said it began with the film’s director.

“Well, what drew me first off was Shana Feste, the director. I just really like her a lot, and she wrote and directed this. I was very excited to turn that first page,” Chastain told WWAY.

She was also intrigued by the film’s unpredictable story and the complexity of her character.

“Misty is just every page that you would go, you think you got to know her, and then nope, there’s new things coming out,” she said.

Chastain said the mystery reminded her of a question that captivated her as a child: Who killed Laura Palmer? The question was central to the television series “Twin Peaks.”

But taking on the role meant doing something Chastain had previously joked she never wanted to do again: sing on camera.

So what changed her mind?

“The script. The script. I mean, it’s very rare to get a part like Misty Jones,” she said.

Chastain explained that although both Wynette and Misty are country music superstars, their relationships with performing are very different.

While Wynette embraced her audience and the spotlight, Misty is a reluctant performer who has walked away from fame.

“And Misty Jones is the exact opposite, and maybe that’s more connected to me, I would say,” Chastain said.

She described the character’s discomfort with performing as an interesting challenge, particularly because singing forces Misty to revisit parts of her past.

Despite those differences, Chastain said her extensive preparation for “George & Tammy” helped her approach the new role.

She revealed that she had originally been approached about portraying Wynette in 2011, when the project was envisioned as a film.

“I studied Tammy Wynette for so long ’cause we were gonna do it as a film, and I was approached in 2011 to make it as a film,” she said.

That preparation included learning about Wynette’s life, Nashville’s country music history, and the experiences of a performer who achieved extraordinary fame.

Chastain said she was able to draw on that knowledge when portraying Misty.

“I didn’t really need to imagine what the superstardom was because I had just played that kind of fame with Tammy Wynette,” she said.

Director Shana Feste combines country music with film noir

For Feste, the inspiration behind “Heartland” came from two longtime interests: classic film noir and country music.

The writer-director said she developed an appreciation for film noir while attending graduate school at the American Film Institute.

Her favorite characters were the hard-boiled detectives traditionally played by actors such as Humphrey Bogart.

“So I was like, ‘This role is amazing. I never get to see this role played by women,'” Feste told WWAY.

She also wanted to return to Nashville, a setting she previously explored in the 2010 film “Country Strong.”

“Making Country Strong was one of the best filmmaking experiences that I had,” she said.

Feste envisioned a female lead who wasn’t concerned with being liked, placing her in a film-noir mystery set against Nashville’s country music scene.

Chastain’s previous portrayal of Wynette helped make her a natural fit.

Feste said she watched the entire “George & Tammy” series and was impressed by Chastain’s performance.

“But I think she has an incredible amount of credibility in this world, you know?” Feste said.

She explained that authenticity was an important consideration when casting the movie, which includes performers with real-world country music experience.

“It’s why we hired so many real, live performers to play roles in the film as well,” she said.

Feste also reflected on how her approach to directing has changed throughout her career.

Early on, she said she felt pressure to have an answer to every question, even when she wasn’t certain what the answer should be.

But working on “Heartland” taught her to embrace collaboration and trust the people around her.

“People that I trusted, people that had my back, and I think the collaboration became so much better because of it,” she said.

Feste credited Chastain and longtime collaborators, including producers Jenno Topping, Randall Poster, and Jason Owen, with helping her bring the project to life.

She also pushed back against the idea that producers are becoming less important to filmmaking, explaining that she relied heavily on their guidance.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.

Cast members discuss bringing ‘Heartland’ to life

For Garrett Hedlund, who portrays Roy Combs, “Heartland” offered an opportunity to reunite with Feste more than a decade after working together on “Country Strong.”

Hedlund said their previous experience established a level of trust that made him eager to collaborate again.

“When I read the script, it really didn’t matter who he was or what was at stake. I was going on this journey with Shana regardless,” Hedlund said of his character.

He said the characters’ complexity is part of what makes the mystery interesting.

Hedlund also suggested that audiences should expect some emotional moments alongside the suspense.

Ross Lynch, who portrays Jace, said the screenplay was what initially caught his attention.

“The script was very compelling. I really liked the story, and I thought Shana wrote a fantastic script,” Lynch said.

Lynch said he was also excited to return to acting after taking a hiatus and to participate in a film led by a female character.

Country singer Carter Faith, who plays Charlie Heart, brought a different perspective to the production.

For Faith, “Heartland” offered the opportunity to transition from her real-life music career into acting.

“It was so cool. I mean, I loved every second of it,” Faith said.

She acknowledged that acting presented a learning experience, but her familiarity with the country music industry helped her connect with the role.

“But I’m glad I had the country music experience to bring with me at least,” she said. “It was just cool to tell, like, a fictional story on the real life I’m living in a way.”

The cast also discussed the experience of seeing the finished movie at the New York screening.

Lynch said the premiere was his first opportunity to watch the completed film, while Faith had seen it previously.

The actors praised the production’s visual style, with Faith singling out its cinematography.

Chastain remembers her time in Wilmington

While “Heartland” brought Chastain and the cast to New York City, her earlier work in Wilmington provided a special connection for southeastern North Carolina viewers.

Chastain spent months in the Cape Fear region filming “George & Tammy,” and Bennett asked whether she would consider returning for another project.

Her response was immediate.

“Oh my gosh, yes. I thought it was so beautiful. I loved the restaurants there. I loved the people there,” Chastain said.

Although Chastain calls New York City home, she said Wilmington offered a different pace of life that she found particularly appealing.

“I live in New York and I love New York. I am a New Yorker, but there was an ease of how you moved through your day in Wilmington that it’s, like, addicting,” she said.

Chastain also recalled the quality of life she experienced during her time in the area.

And one of her favorite memories involved a Wilmington tradition: Halloween decorations.

“The quality of life there was so nice. I loved the Halloween decorations. I’m a big fan of decorating the house for Halloween, and I was there around that time when we were shooting, and that was really cool to see, too,” she said.

When Bennett mentioned that Wilmington residents take their Halloween decorating seriously, Chastain enthusiastically agreed.

“Oh my gosh. Do they ever,” she said.

Her new movie may be called “Heartland,” but while New York City is home, it sounds like a little piece of Jessica Chastain’s heart landed in Wilmington, too.

“Heartland” premieres Friday, Nov. 13, on Netflix.

Disclosure: Netflix covered the cost of WWAY’s travel and accommodations for the screening and interviews in New York City.