Despite her multiple appearances on the big screen in 2011, Natalie Portman spent pretty much the whole year preparing for the birth of her first child – and caring for her baby, thereafter. Outside of Thor 2, the Oscar-winning actress doesn’t really have any films lined up on her to-do list just yet, either.
However, that could change in the near future; according to a new report, Portman is now being eyed as a potential starlet for Jupiter Ascending, a new original sci-fi film scripted (and to be directed) by Matrix creators Andy and Lana Wachowski.
24 Frames is reporting that Portman has been “courted” by the Wachowski siblings to headline their upcoming mysterious sci-fi project. The actress has worked with the filmmakers (in some capacity) before on the Wachowski co-scripted/produced V for Vendetta graphic novel movie; similarly, Portman was long rumored to star in the duo’s latest directorial effort: the upcoming (ambitious) literary adaptation, Cloud Atlas.
There’s no guarantee that anything will come of the talks with Portman – who (last year) passed on both Cloud Atlas and director Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D sci-fi flick, Gravity. Still, she’s clearly on good terms with the Wachowskis and Jupiter Ascending is almost definitely the sort of intriguing and truly-creative genre project that the Black Swan starlet would give serious thought to appearing in, especially given her largely-open schedule right now.
With regards to why we say “almost definitely”… well, that’s because official details on Jupiter Ascending are being kept firmly under wraps; given the extremely media-shy attitude of the Wachowskis, that probably won’t be changing anytime soon either. Still, it’s safe to say the project should feature many of the filmmakers’ trademark elements (ex. comic book/anime influences, philosophical sci-fi subject matter, highly-stylized action sequences, etc.).
As far as the potential quality of Jupiter Ascending goes: the Wachowskis are very much one-of-a-kind cinematic artists and even their less-liked creations (the Matrix sequels, Speed Racer) are still fascinating enough to warrant a look or two. All the same, here’s to hoping their new project ends up being one of their better ones.
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Jupiter Ascending is expected to begin production by Fall 2012.
