Natalie Portman Cast in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan

Posted on Monday, June 15th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta

aronofsky portman

Good news: Natalie Portman has signed on to star in Darren Aronofsky’s potential next movie.

Bad news: Darren Aronofsky’s next movie is probably not Robocop…

…but instead a supernatural thriller set in the world of New York City Ballet. Yes, you read that correctly!

Aronofsky became attached to Black Swan in early 2007, but the film was put into turnaround by Universal. The project is apparently making the rounds to studios and specialty divisions, with Portman as part of the CAA package. Mark Heyman, co-producer of The Wrestler, has done a rewrite of the original script by John McLaughlin.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Portman would play a veteran ballerina who finds herself “locked in to a competitive showdown with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance.” But it isn’t as simple as that — the big twist is that Portman’s character is not sure whether her rival is a supernatural apparition or if she is having delusions. Sounds like a genre-thriller with award potential.

I’m not immediately sold on the short logline, but with exceptional talent like Portman and Aronofsky involved, I’m sure it will be great. Aronofsky could make a film about an empty white room, and I’d be in line opening day to pay $15. And hey, I’m sure a lot of people had no interest in seeing a film about an aging professional wrestler…

I find it hard to imagine that a studio won’t jump immediately at this project, especially with Aronofsky coming hot off a critically acclaimed and award nominated film, complete with Portman locked in as part of the package. If a sale happens soon, Swan could be in production by year’s end.

Aronofsky was also developing a reboot of Robocop for MGM, which the studio originally hoped to have in theaters for 2010. MGM recently moved expectations to 2011. And maybe one of the reasons I’m not so-sold on the project is because I’ve been waiting to see what Aronofsky could do with a big high concept project like Robocop, or one of his more original stories. I very much hope he gets the chance to make Noah’s Ark one of these days.

Comments

Scott

Can you say Suspiria? Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.

skywarp

Why is it bad news that it's not Robocop? Sounds like good news to me.

Eddy Movies

Aronofsky = sold. The rest of this news is the cherry on top. Guy is one of the best directors in the business.

douglaschaplin

so epic.

Geist

Man she is beautiful. This sounds like an interesting film as well.

rockie

robocop to pick up where last film left off.......not a remake

Branden

I guess, I need to hear more deets before making a final judgment on "Black Swan." I could be an interesting look at the pressures of dancing and toll in can take on the mind.

Vinyard

*I'd like to

Vinyard

Aronofsky and Portman. It'll be interesting. I bet Aronofsky can get a "Leon" level peformance out of Portman. And I'm betting Natalie's aware of what's about to happen.
I'm now super-stoked for this project.

Gustavo

BLACK SWAN seems much more interesting than another dumb and unnecessary remake.

Bad news my ass.

Lawdog

What's this guy's problem?! Can't anyone multitask anymore?! How hard can it really be to make 2 completely different major motion pictures at the same time?

Robocop + Aronofsky + $200 mill budget + modern cgi + 3D = smoke 2 joints and call me when your head explodes

Nat + tutu + Aronofsky + supernatural undertones = yes, please

I need these, and I need them yesterday. In related casting news, Natalie Portman has just won the lead role as Naughty Ballerina in tonight's dream.

Vinyard

I'd rather see Aronofsky go low-budget with RoboCop if he were to make it; it'd make the SFX more clever and endearing - hopefully. But I'm with you there on getting blazed to watch it! Ha!

stu

how about Portman as Lewis in Robocop? hmmmmm

----

Ahahaha

Brian

Sounds great, idea reminds me of Cassavettes' 'Opening Night.'

Tercotta

I am at a major crossroads between my disdain for dance movies and my love of Aronofsky.

Screw it, going with Aronofsky.

mALICE

it was all about pi... a dazzling debut by aronofsky that set a standard, but was never acheived again.

Vinyard

Wha-!? Right, say something incendiary (and stupid) and don't bother backing up the comment. Have you ever made a film? What do you know of "standards?" I'd to see you explain your comments to Aronofsky, his producing partners, his casts and crews and see how far you get.

Stranger

Natalie's first work, Leon, still remains her best. Hmm. I adore Natalie, but have felt a lot of her projects recently haven't been anything interesting. I figure dealing with college and assorted growing pains, she's had a good excuse not to "push" herself.
Hearing how everyone who works with Darren say the same things regarding how hard he pushes his actors, I imagine the stars have aligned and he'll be perfect to get Natalie back to where she was most promising. Be gentle in coercing her, though, Darren.
I'm excited - so much so I posted this at 2:30 a.m. and I apologize for my grammar.

Infrafan

I will gladly wait for Robocop for this. Natalie Portman working with Aronofsky sounds incredible. Besides, Both films will be that much better because he's working on them when he wants too. Never force a great director who's got much of his craft figured out.

dagreenman18

The only thing that makes me want to see this if that fact that aronofsky is involved. Him + anything= solid gold.

wha?

yep, this is good news and good news. aronofsky could remake the towering inferno or anything else and it would be great but i am not sad to see the robocop reboot fade away.

Tercotta

Aronofsky is slowly getting a reputation for producing oscar noms. Could this be why Portman wants in?

mudywaters

I'm disappointed that he's not doing Robocop first, but this sounds pretty good. Gotta love both Portman and Aronofsky.

ziggi

i wouldnt mind seeing what he does with a bio-mechanical detroit nightmare of the future but im definitely down for black swan.

jrice73

Aronofsky doesn't need "Robocop" or any other remake for that matter. Hopefully this will stay in development hell and then go away...

Nick

Hey, remember when you said bad news, well that was clearly an error, because this is great news.

1. Aronofsky doing something that has the potential for amazing visuals.
2. Small but ambitious film, more in-line with his first two films.
3. Natalie Portman is gorgeous, and despite many saying otherwise, I think developing into a very fine film actress.
4. The premise kind of sounds like Red Shoes in someways, with a fraught ballerina in the center, and that's one of the greatest movies ever made.

I greatly look forward to this.

Tercotta

I thought that The Wrestler was a fairly small film as well.

Nick

It was, of course, but to me it lacked a lot of his style, which I know was intentional, but I'd like to see a return to a more formal style of filmmaking from him, and this project seems like it would call for that. Hand-held close-ups probably won't suit a ballet film.

Benu

Hmmm sounds almost like an Argento film, like a Suspiria or something... But seriously, what is this Noah's Ark bit about? That has me most intrigued and I'm not even of a Christian faith.

Benu

Hmmm sounds almost like an Argento film, like a Suspiria or something... But seriously, what is this Noah's Ark bit about? That has be most intrigued and I'm not even of a Christian faith.

freemachine

"...supernatural thriller set in the world of New York City Ballet."

Huh? This sounds like a lame idea.

While I love Verhoven's original version, and all it's '80-ness, I'd be interested in an updated version of "Robocop". Aronofsky could certainly introduce a darker psychological element to Murphy's state of mind after his transformation.

Octoberist

I'm happy to see him tackling a supernatural movie like Black Swan.

ApprovalGuy

I approve of this casting.

I like V for Vendetta and The Wrestlers, so this movie will be faaaaaaantastic.

I don't approve of Robocop being postponed, that bums me out!

Alex

"...one of his more original stories like Noah’s Ark."

Ummm...didn't God write Noah's Ark as dictated to Moses in his book The Bible?

Peter Sciretta

he has a very original take on the Noah's Ark story

Alex

I know dude. Jussssst messing.

brett Price

wow this sounds interesting. i just love that aronofsky hasnt made the same style movie twice. cant wait to see what he does with this one.

/ambient

I'd rather see Aronofsky not follow the Hollywood crowd. He's one of the most original voices in film today. I mean, if he needs to pay the bills, I understand. A brother needs cash, but seriously reconsider. I know Aronofsky will make a great Robocop. He could have made a great Watchmen. But I'm much more excited for his other works. Same goes for Nolan. Oh, the Dark Knight was amazing, but Inception is going to be great!

jason B

amen, i 100% agree.

NINJARTIST

I've been a bit worried that the Robocop reboot/sequel is going to fall the way of Aronofsky's Batman idea, and he's going to back-out... I just hope that the studio gives him creative freedom, because if they MUST remake it, I want to see his vision.

von dudenstein

Just like any other film with natalie portman, will be worth seeing just to see natalie portman

jason B

i'm a million times more interested in aronofsky doing black swan or an original before he does Robocop - i have zero interest in yet another remake, no matter who helms it.

it's important - now more than ever - for guys like DA to keep pumping out original scripts/films against the tide of remakes/reboots. will robocop be fun & cool? absolutely. but i'd rather see him make more films that will be important to long lasting cinema. could robocop be that type of film? maybe, but i'd rather see original ideas.

HAL_9000

Kind of agree, but I think if he actually does Robocop it won´t feel like a remake at all, but his take on the ideas behind the story

Jared Gores

totally agree.

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