Fans of Jessica Chastain have urged the actor to rethink working on a film project with Australian director Matthew Newton. Earlier this week Deadline broke the news Chastain had signed on to star and produce in an action film called Eve, written and directed by Newton.
Newton, the son of revered entertainer Bert and Patti Newton, has a history of violence from between 2006 to 2012 involving ex-girlfriends Brooke Satchwell and Rachael Taylor.
In 2007, the Herald Sun reported Newton was charged with common assault, stalking/intimidation, and bodily harm against Satchwell.
In 2010, the Herald Sun reported Taylor was allegedly assaulted by Newton at a hotel in Rome. In that same year, a taxi camera caught Newton assaulting his 66-year-old driver.
In total, Newton faced four assault charges but they were all dropped.
Following intense media and public criticism, Newton moved to the United States.
Over the weekend, SBS ran an opinion piece discussing whether or not Newton deserved redemption so soon. In it, SBS referenced an interview Newton did with Deadline in 2017 about his film Who We Are Now starring Emma Roberts and Julianne Nicholson. Based on the interview, Newton appears to be a staunch supporter of women in the film industry.
“I love writing for women, I love working with two fabulous, intelligent, wonderful actresses and I’m not just saying that because they’re here—they are, and I really enjoy actually telling female stories.
“I think there is a dearth—I’m a male writer-director, but we have a 95 percent female crew. I tried to write great roles for women in this movie, and I do think that it’s a really important thing to do. It’s a long time coming.
“If I’m going to write and direct something,” the director continues, “I’m going to want to surround myself with as many strong, intelligent women as I can.”
Upon the news of Chastain’s project with Newton, fans took to Twitter informing her of his history especially because she has been an avid supporter of #MeToo and one of the founding members of #TimesUp – movements created to end sexual harassment and sexual assault in the film and television industry.
Australian actor and writer Harry Cook tweeted “I absolutely adore you @jes-chastain, but Matthew Newton is garbage.”
I absolutely adore you @jes_chastain , but Matthew Newton is garbage. https://t.co/oFMGMWwJqG
— Harry Cook (@HarryCook) August 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/jdpalmatier1016/status/1025831322722414593
https://twitter.com/alicefoulcher/status/1025743298202296321
FYI your next director Matthew Newton beats women: https://t.co/NVb3t78RdB
— David Lawrance (@davidlawrance) August 5, 2018
@jes_chastain please listen to the victims of domestic violence and do the right thing. We don’t tolerate matthew newton and you shouldn’t either. https://t.co/HzKxpe3wZp
— Benjamin Rigby (@brigbyphoto) August 4, 2018
@jes_chastain please rethink this! There are many wonderful female writer/directors you could work with instead. Matthew is not an ally of @TIMESUPNOW or #MeToo
— Claire Armstrong (@Claireabelle___) August 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/countess_skanky/status/1024855345955528704
https://twitter.com/chastainsgadot/status/1025211062990331905
https://twitter.com/TheCurbAU/status/1025424933298421761
In a statement to Indiewire about his assault charges Newton said:
“It is absolutely intolerable to harm women, it is intolerable to harm men, it is intolerable to harm anyone. I had done these things, and I utterly regret it, and I have to live with this responsibility every day. I had a severe problem with substance and alcohol abuse then and for almost six years now I have actively worked every single day, one day at a time, to remain sober and live a clean, upstanding life.”
If you would like to talk to a counsellor about domestic violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can also contact No to Violence on 1300 766 491.
