Tate Taylor has signed on to direct his “The Help” star Jessica Chastain’s upcoming film “Eve” after original director Matthew Newton dropped out earlier this month, TheWrap has learned.
Newton was originally announced as the director of the action indie, but exited the project after fans resurfaced accusations of domestic abuse made against him.
“Since the announcement of this film, the responses, which are powerful and important, have not fallen on deaf ears. I am profoundly aware that I have a responsibility to lead where I have failed in the past. I can never undo the harm that I’ve caused the people I’ve cared about and I carry that shame and responsibility with me every day,” Newton said in a statement earlier this month, acknowledging his history of addiction and mental health illness.
In 2007, Newton pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex, Brooke Satchwell, but his conviction was overturned after a psychiatrist said that the filmmaker suffered from depression and was unlikely to re-offend.
But over the next five years, Newton was accused of more assaults, including against another girlfriend, Rachael Taylor.
“Eve” will now serve as reunion for Taylor and Chastain, who is producing the film through her company Freckle Films in addition to starring.
Taylor’s other credits include “The Girl on the Train” and “Get on Up,” as well as the upcoming horror film “Ma,” which will reunite him with another star of “The Help,” Octavia Spencer.
Umberto Gonzalez contributed to this report.