‘Heartland’ on Netflix: 7 things to know before watching Jessica Chastain’s new thriller

Netflix's Heartland, a thriller film set in Nashville, follows Misty Jones, a former country music star. Garrett Hedlund, Ross Lynch, Carter Faith, Jennifer Nettles and John Hawkes also feature in the film. From its story and cast to its country music connections, here are seven things to know before watching.

1. A former country music star's search for her missing niece

The film builds upon Misty Jones (Jessica Chastain), a former country music superstar who left fame behind. She returns to Nashville, Tennessee, after her niece Charlie Heart (Carter Faith), a rising country music performer, goes missing.

Charlie’s management claims that she sometimes disappears without warning. However, Misty and her family are not convinced. Misty begins searching for answers and soon finds herself caught up in the darker side of Nashville's music scene.


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2. Jessica Chastain plays the lead character, Misty Jones

Chastain takes on the role of Misty, a musician who once enjoyed fame but chose to leave the spotlight. But when she returns to Nashville, it makes her face her past and the people she left behind.

In Netflix's official cast guide, Chastain describes Misty as funny, difficult, loyal and self-destructive. She also says that Misty believes isolation gives her freedom, but the story challenges that belief.

Chastain is known for films such as The Help, The Martian, Molly's Game and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

3. The film features real-life country music performers

Music plays an important part in Heartland. The cast includes real-life country music artists Carter Faith and Jennifer Nettles.

Faith plays Charlie Heart, Misty's missing niece. The film marks her feature-film debut. Her debut album, Cherry Valley, received a nomination for Album of the Year at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards.

Nettles, best known as the lead singer of Sugarland, plays Winnie Jo Lean, Misty's longtime frenemy. She also brings her singing and stage experience to the film's concert sequences.

4. Meet the main cast and their characters

Alongside Chastain, Heartland features several familiar actors and musicians.

• Garrett Hedlund as Roy Combs: A record executive who discovered Charlie and helps Misty with her search.
• Ross Lynch as Jace Jacobs: Charlie's boyfriend and fellow musician. He becomes one of the immediate suspects.
• Jennifer Nettles as Winnie Jo Lean: Misty's longtime frenemy, with whom she shares a complicated history.
• John Hawkes as Clark: Misty's ex-husband and former musical partner, who now lives a reclusive life.

The supporting cast includes Paul Sparks as Donny, Benjamin Dickey as Buck, Tracy Lawrence as Roger Lane, Wynn Everett as Kelly Lovell, Norbert Leo Butz as Detective White and J.P. Edwards as Jared Granger.

5. Shana Feste directed the film

Shana Feste serves as the writer and director of Heartland. She previously directed Country Strong, the 2010 drama set in Nashville's country music industry.

6. The story goes beyond a missing-person mystery

Although Charlie's disappearance is what drives the plot, Heartland is very much a family drama about relationships, regret and forgiveness.

Chastain was initially thinking it was a mystery in the cast guide for Netflix. It slowly became clear it was something far more intimate.

The film is also very much in the noir tradition and looks at the more sinister side of Nashville's music scene. It's a mystery in the classic sense, with a host of complicated personal relationships.

7. When and where can you watch Heartland?

You can watch Heartland on Netflix from November 13, 2026. Jessica Chastain, Garrett Hedlund, Carter Faith, Ross Lynch, Jennifer Nettles and John Hawkes lead the cast of the country music thriller.