Portman Signs on to "Black Swan"

Portman Does a Little Swan-to-Swan with Aronovsky

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (23)

I think we’re supposed to be extremely excited about this news, but it’s not really tickling my underarms, so to speak. Darren Aronofsky has been trying to put a supernatural thriller called The Black Swan into development for a couple of years. Now that he’s gained a modicum of commercial credibility with The Wrestler (his critical viability was never in doubt, despite the mixed reception of The Fountain), things were beginning to look up.

And then Natalie Portman signed on. And now Aronovsky might actually get a movie in production (his Robocop remake has already been pushed back a year).

The Black Swan is said to have echoes of The Others, because all non-remakes have to be compared to past movies. The plot, according to THR: “Swan centers on a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. But it’s unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions.

Interesting. I guess. I like Aronofsky. I like Portman. So, yay! right? It’ll at least give us all a chance to see Portman in a tutu. For now, though, if I want to see a movie set at a ballet reception, I’ll stick with the upcoming 2081, based on Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron

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If any of those "echoes of The Others" involve Christopher Ecclestone, count me in.
Hell, count me in anyway since I love Aronovsky's work.

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 16, 2009 5:39 PM

I know it's twice in one day that I've done this and if it's any consolation, I hate myself for it, but isn't his name Darren Aronofsky?

Posted by: Popcultureboy at June 16, 2009 5:45 PM

Is Thom Yorke's "Black Swan" going to be the song for the film??? Not that im complaining...

Posted by: Abegon at June 16, 2009 5:46 PM

So, it's The Turning Point without Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLain, Mikhail Baryshnikov or Tom Skerritt? Nobody does bitchslap like Bancroft and MacLain.

Posted by: BWeaves at June 16, 2009 5:57 PM

I think I suddenly need to rent The Turning Point again, just to watch Baryshnikov's tights.

Posted by: BWeaves at June 16, 2009 5:59 PM

I got to read the script for this, and it is FUCKED UP in the best possible way. Like Mulholland Drive meets The Company. I have no doubt it'll either be a hot mess or totally awesome, either of which I'm O.K. with.

Posted by: whatBENwatches at June 16, 2009 6:38 PM

Aronofsky. Remember the name.

Posted by: Mick J at June 16, 2009 6:41 PM

Folks, folks, this thing is already setting itself up for major sucktion.

Portman? She who has forgotten how to act?

Nothing to see here.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at June 16, 2009 6:55 PM

Looks awesome. Can't wait.

Posted by: zito at June 16, 2009 7:25 PM

I hope Portman can at last find a way to make up for her dismal performances in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Posted by: George at June 16, 2009 7:38 PM

Oh, FUCK NO!!!!!!!!!! I had the delirious dream of casting Portman in my movie about a ballerina forced to retire.

Fuck you, Hollywood. Fuck you in the ear with a sandpaper condom while Palin's speeches play on loop in the background.

Posted by: Sofía at June 16, 2009 7:41 PM

When I first read the description, I thought it was odd to include the bit about her competition possibly being supernatural or a delusion. Doesn't that kinda give it all away?

Posted by: Cindy at June 16, 2009 7:56 PM

That sounds suspiciously like a pretty awesome Korean horror movie, "Wishing Stairs," which is the third film in the Whispering Corridors trilogy. Two ballerinas at an art school are best friends; one girl has no desire to be a ballet dancer but has all the talent, while the other one wants to be the best and has all the ambition, but just isn't as good. Dancer #1 gets the lead role and a position at a ballet school in Russia. Feeling jealous and abandoned, dancer #2 goes to the titular wishing stairs and wishes that she'd gotten the part instead. All hell breaks loose.

I don't know if it's actually going to be a super-loose remake or the rival ballerina thing is coincidental - just thought I'd mention it.

(Also, hi! Longtime lurker, usually much too lazy to comment.)

Posted by: Nat at June 16, 2009 8:37 PM

I had the same thought as Cindy - I'm used to trailers giving away 80% of a film's plot, but now they're spilling the good stuff in the pre-production loglines? Wow.

Posted by: Shay at June 16, 2009 8:54 PM

Hi Nat!

Posted by: replica at June 17, 2009 12:08 AM

Is it just me or was The Wrestler...not that good

Posted by: Alayna at June 17, 2009 4:48 AM

Alayna - it was you.

Posted by: Shane at June 17, 2009 5:35 AM

Portman? She who has forgotten how to act?

*snarf* It's like you read my mind. I saw Mr. Magorium's unnecessarily long title the other day. Wow. She was whiny and insufferable.

Posted by: io at June 17, 2009 9:26 AM

But it was just so...disappointing! What with Mickey Rourke playing himself, and that shitty ending. I saw Milk a couple of days later and that made it seem all the more...less.

Posted by: Alayna at June 17, 2009 9:59 AM

Alayna - my brother and sister felt the same exact way (I haven't seen it yet). I don't think you're alone.

Posted by: samantha t at June 17, 2009 10:46 AM

*sigh* I could watch Natalie Portman eating cornflakes.
Or me. I could watch her eat me all day long....

Posted by: Odnon at June 17, 2009 4:55 PM

Maybe it will be a ballerina version of The Prestige?

Posted by: Leftylad at June 17, 2009 5:16 PM

Sounds good! I always want to do dirty things to Portman so seeing her prance around in a tutu should be awesome.

Portman actually interviewed him for her site and he said he never gets the people he wants for his films. Interesting comment.

Posted by: Matt at June 22, 2009 8:57 AM

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Portman Does a Little Swan-to-Swan with Aronovsky

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