Fresh off the news that Natalie Portman would deign to play the Notorious RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it seems that Portman is going to play yet another iconic American woman: Jacqueline Kennedy. COME ON. To be fair, the Kennedy women – Jackie in particular – have been portrayed in films and TV projects alike. I actually thought Jill Hennessy came the closest to looking like Jackie (it was a TV movie). I used to have a Jackie obsession and I read a lot of her biographies, and she definitely had a fascinating and film-worthy life. But Natalie Portman? I’m so not feeling it. And the project will reunite Portman with Darren Aronofsky (side-eye).
Natalie Portman will star as Jackie Kennedy in “Jackie,” about the first four days in Jackie Kennedy’s life after the assassination of her husband, President John. F. Kennedy, when she lost the love of her life but won the love of a nation. Darren Aronofsky will produce while Pablo Larrain (“No”) directs.
Juan de Dios Larrain of Chile’s Fabula produces with Aronofsky and his partner Scott Franklin at Protozoa Pictures. “Jackie” goes into production at the end of 2015.
“ ‘Jackie’ talks about the days when Jackie Kennedy becomes an icon but has lost everything,” said Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval, who is overseeing Insiders. Aronofsky, who was president of the Berlin festival jury this year, was highly impressed with Larrain’s Berlinale competition entry “The Club,” which went on to win the fest’s Grand Jury Prize. Portman caught “The Club” in Paris, and loved it. “It’s the ‘Black Swan’ team reunited for Pablo Larrain,” Maraval said.
“…About the days when Jackie Kennedy becomes an icon but has lost everything…” So it will be about the years days immediately following JFK’s assassination. That’s sort of interesting. The years following the assassination have always been difficult for biographers to cover, mostly because it’s widely believed that Jackie was carrying on an affair with Robert Kennedy – they were united in grief and then some. It’s widely believed that RFK did not approve of Aristotle Onassis’s attempts to woo Jackie, and Jackie only decided to marry Onassis after RFK was murdered. As I said, it’s a rich, complicated story with a lot of potential for a filmmaker. But I’m worried that this version with woman-child Portman as Jackie will end up just a Lifetime-esque sob story about a devastated widow struggling through shock.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
She’s back! 4 new movies in a week.
Do we really need yet another Kennedy/Camelot/Onassis Lifetime-ish film?
Wasn’t Katie Holmes Jackie as well not too long ago?
That is exactly what I was thinking, I actually think Katie Holmes did a good job in the Kennedy’s mini series and she resembles her a bit.
Katie even looks like her and is tall just like Jackie O too. Portman is too short and she looks more similar to Audrey Hepburn then Jackie O. Wrong casting choice again.
She’s a lot shorter looking than Jackie…
Most performances of Diana or Jackie turn out bad. In fact, I can’t really think of a good one.
Not so much a question of yay or nay but why? Good Lord the Kennedy s aren’t that intriguing at this point.
I know. Blech.
Wait! Shouldn’t this role go to Amal Clooney?
Lolz you win today. Except Amal has ELEVEN cases.
ELEVEN CASES! Of what – porcelain cockatoos?
@PunkyMomma–No, 11 cases of casamigos, left over from the wedding!!
Not feeling it. The movie or Natalie playing Jackie.
Me neither. Just no
Sounds like an unbridled mess to me.
While focusing on the few days following the assassination is a different take, I don’t see Natalie in this role. I think she’s a decent actor, but it seems an odd fit. And we don’t need anymore Kennedy stuff, at least not for a while.
I’m one of those who never got her. She’s just blah.
At this rate, Portman will be announced to be playing Michelle Obama by next week!
Not sure why anyone would side eye a Natalie and Aronofsky collab – Black Swan was arguably the strongest film Portman has ever made. She has the most inconsistent of careers. She has had more misses than hits which is interesting considering she is a valid A-list star. But I always find her acting a little too forced, put-on. I think that’s why Black Swan worked so well. But in terms of these new projects, I have no faith in them mostly because nothing that Portman does is really interesting. And Aronofsky isn’t directing, so I’ll pass.
Rumor has it he is the real father of her kid, she broke Daren and Rachel Weisz up during the making of Black Swan, and loser no-name Centipide is just a pretend hubby. Seems fair since we never see Centpiede around helping Natalie with the kid.
I’m confused by this rumor since at least what appeared to happen is that Weisz left him for Craig. And I actually know a few guys who are good friends with Aronofsky and they said that was true and he was devastated.
Jackie O and the Notorious RBG*. Quite an interesting duo for one person to be playing.
*Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I feel like I’ve read about this screenplay being around for years- I think originally he had Rachel Weisz slated to play Jackie, while they were still together. That’s never a great sign for a movie…I just saw “Serena” with Jennifer Lawrence and they definitely should have just let that script go.
she hasnt been interesting to me on any level since “the professional”
i dont even think she is pretty anymore. im not sure if that is because she isnt or because she is so bland and it spills over.
No.
HAHAHAHAHAHA. On a sober note, No she should not play Jackie O.
The movie sounds like a snoozer. It covers only the first couple of days? Is this like watching paint dry?
I’m happy for her success. I think she looks similar enough.
Everything that could possibly be said about the Kennedys has already been said. Ad nauseum. Yawn.