Set Photos: Terrence Malick's New Film Features Bombshell Natalie Portman, Reserved Michael Fassbender, And The Lizardman

removedTerrence Malick's movies often aren't about who is cast, but who makes the final cut. That's nothing new for the director, but with him out shooting more film more often, and doing so in easy range of photographers, we're getting to see more of his process than ever.

The latest set pics from Malick's new film (formerly called Lawless, and currently untitled) feature Natalie Portman, blonde and looking every inch the Texas bar girl. There are shots of her with newly revealed co-stars Michael Fassbender and Holly Hunter, too. Will any of this stuff be in the final film? Your guess is as good as ours.

The Malick photos come from the Daily Mail; we know the film stars Ryan Gosling and also features Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Haley Bennett, in addition to everyone seen here. Oh, and with the film shooting here in Austin and featuring the city's music scene as backdrop, naturally scene mainstay the Lizardman shows up as well, as seen in the header image.

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Of the film, we know that it is "set against the music scene of Austin, and tells the story of two intersecting love triangles and the obsession and betrayal that follows," but that's it. Some footage was shot last year at the Austin City Limits festival, and then more went down at Fun Fun Fun Fest a few weeks later. With the ACL festival kicking off tomorrow, there's a good chance that Malick's crew will be back in action there. (A small unit was even spotted a couple weeks ago outside the Alamo Drafthouse during Fantastic Fest, as a crew grabbed shots of Ryan Gosling.)

Given that Rachel Weisz, Barry Pepper, Amanda Peet, and Michael Sheen were all cut from Malick's most recent release To the Wonder, however, there's every reason to guess that at least one of these actors won't be in the picture being shot now. But who'll get the axe?

We also don't yet know when we'll see this film. Malick recently finished the film Knight of Cups, also with Christian Bale and Natalie Portman, also starring Cate Blanchett, Joel Kinnaman, Frieda Pinto, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, Wes Bentley,Antonio Banderas, Isabel Lucas. That will presumably see release first, with the untitled film following sometime after.