Here are some new photos of Natalie Portman with her nearly 2-year-old son Aleph yesterday in Los Feliz. According to Fame/Flynet, she had taken him to a Jewish community center. Much like January Jones’ son Xander, Aleph seemed kind of ginger-y when he was small, but as he gets older, his hair is becoming more straight-forward blonde. I’m not trying to throw coal on the conspiracy fires, so I’ll just say that I think it’s interesting that two dark-haired people produced such a fair, tow-headed child. Cough.

Natalie is currently filming Jane Got a Gun, which might go down as the most cursed project of 2013. The most cursed project of 2011-2012 was probably World War Z, but a lot of WWZ’s curses were self-inflicted, plus that film is just HUGE. Jane Got a Gun was supposed to be a smaller, hyper-violent drama, and Natalie believes in the project so much, she’s producing the mess. This is what has happened so far:

*Michael Fassbender was hired, but then he quit a few days before the production began, claiming that he had scheduling conflicts with X-Men: Days of Future Past.

*Jude Law quit the film the day before the production began.

*The director Lynne Ramsey quit the production on the first day – she quit by NEVER SHOWING UP. Cinematographer Darius Khondji quit the production that first week “out of solidarity” with Ramsey.

*They hired director Gavin O’Connor to replace Ramsey. He had to come in and hit the ground running, because producers refused to delay production at first, although at this point they are doing a “phased shutdown.” Whatever that means.

*Joel Edgerton is still in the production (I think), but he’s changed parts a few times.

*Bradley Cooper took on one of the roles vacated by Fassbender or Law, but then he quit a few days ago too, claiming scheduling conflicts.

*The producers went to Jake Gyllenhaal and offered him the role that Bradley vacated, and Jake wasn’t into it. I think the part – the crucial role of “Jane’s ex-boyfriend” – is still vacant as we speak. Basically this thing is a HUGE mess.

*Breaking: Ewan McGregor just stepped into one of the vacant roles. He should be out of the production by the end of the week!

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

Ugh, they should have cast the green dude ^^ as Lady Macbeth.

Yesterday we discussed the now sure-thing casting decision of Michael Fassbender in a new screen adaptation of Macbeth. The idea of Fassy-as-Macbeth was applauded by many of us as a smart casting choice, but in the initial reporting, they were still searching for a suitable Lady Macbeth. I suggested Jessica Chastain because I would love the ginger-on-ginger action and because I think Jessica would be able to nail the hell out of “Out, out damn spot” scene. Other casting ideas from the comments section: Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Emily Blunt. The vibe I kept getting for everyone is that they should not cast an American, but if they did cast an American, it should be someone like Chastain. Guess what? They cast an American. And it’s not Chastain. It’s NATALIE PORTMAN.

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman will play Lady Macbeth opposite Michael Fassbender in the upcoming version of Macbeth, announced by ScreenDaily yesterday. It is due to shoot later in 2013. Screen understands that Portman has long wanted to take on the role, previously considering stage versions, and that the actress was keen to renew her collaboration with Fassbender after the two recently wrapped production on Terrence Malick’s latest film about the Texas music scene.

Snowtown’s Justin Kurzel will direct the update of Shakespeare’s classic thriller produced by The King’s Speech and Shame producers See-Saw. Writers are Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff. The script has been one of the most in-demand ahead of the Cannes Film Festival with a number of sales outfits keen to work on the film.

Development and production backing on the UK-Australian co-production comes from Film4. The production sees Fassbender reunited with Shame producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Film4, with whom the actor worked on Hunger, Shame and the upcoming Frank.

The new take on Shakespeare’s classic – about a ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord who siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and three witches – is set in the 11th century and in the original language. The script is understood to be a visceral approach to the story including significant battle scenes.

Portman will next be seen in superhero sequel Thor: The Dark World and she is currently shooting Jane Got a Gun, which previously had Fassbender on board. The actress is represented by Brillstein Entertainment and CAA.

[From Screen Daily]

Ugh, why are Portman and Fassbender on each other’s jocks these days? Surely they don’t have that much chemistry. I rarely think Natalie has chemistry with any of her leading men though, unless you’re talking about Jean Reno and maybe (!) Clive Owen in Closer, although the Clive Owen thing is all HIM and not her. Clive Owen could have sexual chemistry with a lamp post. And that lamp post would get pregnant too. Anyway, casting Natalie Portman as Lady Macbeth totally kills my lady boner. It’s dull, uninspired and it will ruin the project. But! The last time Fassy and Portman were cast opposite each other, Fassbender ended up pulling out of the film like the day before the production began (that was Jane Got a Gun). So maybe this isn’t as for-sure as it sounds. Hopefully.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

A lot of the celebrities who were at the actual Oscars went back to their hotel rooms to get into their party dresses. And then some celebrities who were not at the Oscars came out last night solely for the parties. These are some selected shots from the Vanity Fair Oscar party, which is the ticket everybody wants. There were some surprises among the guest list, like Natalie Portman and Benjamin. I’m genuinely surprised they came out for the Vanity Fair party – surely they are WAY too private to deign to pose on the red carpet together? Natalie is wearing Dior – does anyone else think she looks pregnant again? Do you think it’s on or is it just a weird dress?

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt. I just can’t with her plastic face anymore. Jon looks really tired here too. I still love him, but my love has waned a bit.

Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad. The dress is total J.Lo (for real) but from the neck up, Lily is giving me Rooney Mara vibes. God, she’s lost so much weight.

Miranda Kerr in Valentino, with a shellshocked-looking Orlando Bloom. Why are they everywhere these days? This is like the fifth big Hollywood event they’ve come to in two months. What’s the deal?

Anne Hathaway changed her dress for the party, but we don’t have any full-length shots. My bad! This dress seems okay – it’s just a sack, you know? A halter-sack.

Here’s Gerard Butler and his girlfriend of several months, Madalina Ghenea. I guess I’m happy that he seems to be in a relationship that has lasted longer than a trip to a Port-o-potty, but this lady gives me strange vibes. Drag queen vibes.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

You can criticize Natalie Portman for a lot of things, but she has excellent taste in costars. Natalie has had a long-gestating project languishing for the better part of six or seven months. The project is a western called Jane Got a Gun, and Natalie is not only the star, she’s the producer. One of Natalie’s first costars to sign on was none other than Michael Fassbender, because of course. I heard a few weeks ago that Joel Edgerton has also signed on to the film, and he’s incredibly hot too. And just last week a new addition made the casting rolls: hottie Rodrigo Santoro. The problem? Apparently Natalie used to date Rodrigo (which I have no memory of) and she was the one to recommend him for the job. And Natalie’s husband Benjamin Millepied is NOT happy.

Natalie Portman may be thrilled about her new costar in the upcoming film Jane Got a Gun, but her husband isn’t! Natalie’s handsome leading man, Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro, 37, is an ex (he dated the star in 2009). When Benjamin found out that it was his wife who suggested Rodrigo for the role (she’s also a producer on the film), he was “livid,” says an insider close to the couple.

“Natalie and Rodrigo are going to be in close quarters and spending a lot of time together.”

[From In Touch Weekly, print edition]

Oh, I just found the old story – CB did it back in 2009. Natalie was in between steady boyfriends after her split from Devendra Banhart and she was rumored to be swinging between Rodrigo and Ryan Gosling!! Damn. I forgot Natalie had such a torrid dating past. If I had to choose between Fassbender, Edgerton and Santoro… um… ooooh… wait, what? I mean, I would definitely pick Fassy first and always, but Joel and Rodrigo are both incredible choices too. What was the point of this story? Oh, right. Benjamin. He should be worried!!

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

This news is… surprising. For several different reasons. Us Weekly (and other outlets) are reporting that Natalie Portman is moving to Paris full-time because her husband, Benjamin Millepied, has gotten a job to be the director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet. This is surprising because A) a lot of us thought he was a Ballet K-Fed who was going to use Natalie’s connections to build a career for himself in Hollywood and B) I never thought Natalie would be the kind of woman who would give up her home (NYC and LA) for her man. Surprise!

Natalie Portman and her family are getting ready to say au revoir to Hollywood. The Black Swan star’s husband, French dancer-choreographer Benjamin Millepied, has been tapped to be the new director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet starting September 2014, the New York Times announces. Millepied, 35, told the paper that he and Portman, 31, will move to the French metropolis for the position with Aleph, their 20-month-old son.

Overcoming current or former members of the company to nab the spot, Millepied replaces Brigitte Lefevre, the director of dance at the Paris Opera since 1995, who is retiring after the 2013-2014 season. “I was surprised, but I felt very quickly that the artistic dialogue between us was an exciting one,” Millepied told the Times of Stéphane Lissner, who will become the Opera’s new artistic director in 2015. “After a while I did feel there was a really good chance I might get the position. Which made my head spin.”

Millepied met Portman on the set of Black Swan in 2009 (he was its choreographer and had a small onscreen role), with the twosome announcing their engagement — and Portman’s pregnancy — in December 2010. Born in Bordeaux, France, the handsome dad became a star dancer with the City Ballet in 2002.

With Portman giving birth to Aleph in June 2011, Millepied retired from the stage that same year, founding the L.A. Dance Project — a small, experimental troupe — in 2012. (Millepied told the Times he hopes the troupe will continue after his departure.)
He and Portman married at a private home in Big Sur, Calif. on Aug. 4 of last year, with the movie star wearing an A-line white dress by Rodarte, the label run by Portman’s pals, sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy.

[From Us Weekly]

In the beginning of Benjamin and Natalie’s relationship, there were a number of (bitchy) reports about Benjamin’s talents – sources claimed that his real gift was for self-promotion and raising money for the New York City Ballet rather than, you know, actual ballet. Over the past few years, there have been various reports on Natalie and Benjamin’s arguments about where they were going to build a home, based on her career and his, and for a moment it seemed like Benjamin was going to give up dancing to be a stay-at-home dad. I guess not!

Here’s my question though – do you think Benjamin is only going to sign on year by year? Or is this an open-ended position which could have the family permanently relocated in Paris?

Some photos of Natalie earlier this week:

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

As a companion piece to Forbes’ recent Most Overpaid Actors list, the financial magazine has released its annual Best Actors For The Buck list. It is based upon actors’ earnings as measured against box-office grosses and budget estimates from their last three wide-release films where they’ve played a lead. Thanks in huge part to Black Swan (which was made for $13 million and grossed $329 million) and (to a lesser degree) No Strings Attached, Natalie Portman leads the pack. Natalie’s always done pretty damn well at the box office, and she’s chosen her projects wisely over the past handful of years, so it’s no surprise to see her at the top of this list. She’ll probably be back next year thanks to Thor as well.

Next up? Kristen Stewart. Not only did she score big time with The Twilight Saga movies, but she also lucked out with Snow White and the Huntsman (which was made for $170 million but grossing $400 million). Let’s face it though — nobody went and watched SWATH because of KStew. They went for Charlize Theron as a badass-looking villain, Chris Hemsworth as the strapping Huntsman, and the special effects. Kristen was really just a lip-biting placeholder. Even though KStew has a really bad attitude and it’s hard to root for her continued success, I will say that it’s pretty awesome that the top two slots on this list are occupied by females. Not bad, right? Here’s the top ten:

1. Natalie Portman: Returns $42.70 for every $1 paid.
2. Kristen Stewart: Returns $40.60 for every $1 paid.
3. Shia LaBeouf: Returns $35.80 for every $1 paid.
4. Robert Pattinson: Returns $31.70 for every $1 paid.
5. Daniel Radcliffe: Returns $30.50 for every $1 paid.
6. Taylor Lautner: Returns $29.50 for every $1 paid.
7. Bradley Cooper: Returns $25.00 for every $1 paid.
8. Dwayne Johnson: Returns $22.70 for every $1 paid.
9. Amy Adams: Returns $22.60 for every $1 paid.
10. Kevin James: Returns $22.70 for every $1 paid.

[From Forbes]

The only actors in the top ten who made this list without being part of a virtually fail-proof franchise are Natalie, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Adams, and Kevin James. Although the latter usually stars in movies that nobody should ever admit to enjoying, right? Everyone loves Amy Adams though, and I have a (very) soft spot for Dwayne Johnson. Dude has famously impregnated me through several of his movie ventures, including The Tooth Fairy. God, I am so ashamed.

My guess is that we won’t be seeing any of the franchise-based entrants on this list ever again. Well, Bradley Cooper will probably be back if The Hangover sequels keep happening, and KStew may land at the lower end of the top ten if she ends up doing a SWATH sequel, but sadly, Sparkles has probably had his last hurrah in blockbusters. Hopefully, he’ll fare well in those indies that he has lined up for the next few years, but man, poor Taylor Lautner. That kid is so over.

Photos courtesy of WENN

Chris Hemsworth has been named GQ Australia’s Man of the Year (as opposed to Channing Tatum and Ben Affleck as GQ’s Actor and Director of the Year, respectively speaking), and this seems like the clear and obvious choice for the Aussie who has achieved such a stunning breakthrough in Hollywood throughout the past year. Between Thor, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Cabin in the Woods, and all of those paparazzi pics co-starring Elsa Pataky, this has been the year of the Hemsworth. Oh, there are a few other Hemsworth brothers, you say? Well, they’d better work hard to catch up to Chris, or as I like to call him, “Hiiiiiii, Thor…” One thing I appreciate about Chris is his ability to pull off scruffy and pretty looks, but this GQ shoot definitely deviates towards the polished end of the Hemsworth spectrum. The man sure can wear a suit, and here are some excerpts from the interview:

His childhood Star Wars obsession: “It was definitely a dream scenario. I was on The Avengers publicity tour and I had a real moment where it felt like I was part of something special. Kids were looking at The Avengers like I used to look at Star Wars. They were running around pretending to be us.”

His sudden success: “This year may appear like it was big, but it’s only because all the films I’ve been working on have finally come out. The past four or five years have just been a blur.”

On growing up Aussie: “It was a different world. There were crocodiles and buffalo. We were isolated, one of two white families. We saw a lot of corroborees and tribal dancing. I have a wider understanding for the Aboriginal situation because of my time there. It’s an insight into that world that most people don’t get.”

Three years on an Aussie soap: “Whenever you mention ‘Home and Away,’ people list all the Aussie actors who’ve come over to the US from it and been successful. You’ve got Naomi Watts and Simon Baker. Heath Ledger did a stint there. Hugh Jackman. No, I don’t think he did.”

[From GQ Austraila]

Right now, Chris is filming Thor 2 (set pictures below!), and the buzz is that Natalie Portman really resisted reprising her role as Jane Foster and was effectively “forced” into her contractual requirements to come back for the sequel. What gives? Maybe she was burnt out on kissing hot dudes after making out with Michael Fassbender last month on that untitled Terrence Malick project. Or maybe she was just irritated that Jane never got to have sex with Thor in the first movie. They just cuddled by the campfire, right? I’d be angry about that too.

Now here are some candid photos of Chris from the set of Thor 2, which is currently shooting in London. I wonder what Thor is doing in this scene. Maybe fighting some CGI ice giants. Where is Loki?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and GQ Australia

I really don’t want to talk about Natalie Portman. I was going to skip over these photos entirely because they were just labeled “Natalie Portman on the set in Austin, Texas.” But my biscuit gave me a little nudge and whispered, “Michael Fassbender might be in those photos, you know.” I got the tip a few days ago that Fassbender was in Texas, somewhat undercover, having signed on to Terrence Malick’s new, untitled film at the last minute. This is the same film where Natalie Portman is a blonde, and where she’s wearing kind of trashy clothes. Well, Fassbender is in these photos. And he’s making out with Natalie. UGH.

I guess he’s done filming The Counselor with Ridley Scott? Probably. And Fassy wasn’t attached to this Malick project either – he literally must have gotten the call, like, last week. This film also includes (for now) Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara and Holly Hunter. But who knows who will make it to the final cut, you know? Malick is famous for cutting actors out of his films. All I know about the plot is that it involves “intersecting love stories”. Maybe Fassy will end up with Ryan Gosling?! Here’s hoping. Oh, there’s a photo of them shooting a scene together too!

GOSBENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice. Anyway, enjoy the Fassy. I kind of want to scream at Natalie – “GET. OFF. MY. BOYFRIEND.”

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

These are some new photos of Natalie Portman looking pretty hot on the Texas set of Terrence Malick’s new film, “Untitled Terrence Malick Film”. Catchy title, eh? And YES, that IS Holly Hunter in the photos too. My girl! I love Holly Hunter so much. She just seems like one of the coolest people in the world. Anyway, back to Natalie. This is why she went “blonde” – it was for this film. A film which no one really knows anything about, and it probably won’t be released for another five years anyway (such is the way of The Malick), so don’t get too caught up in the details. It’s just Natalie looking pretty hot in Texas.

Natalie continues to score role after role post-baby. She’s still probably going to do that Jane Got a Gun movie with Michael Fassbender, and there are new rumors that she’s been approached to play Jackie Kennedy in a potential high-class bio-pic:

Jackie, a biopic about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, has been bouncing around Hollywood for a couple years now. And it’s easy to see why. She was not only a fashion icon, but also an ever-chic First Lady who had to endure the heartbreak of John F. Kennedy’s assassination on a deeper level than anyone else. Hers is a story that seems destined for an incredible film translation, not to mention a plum role for a poised leading lady.

Deadline reveals Fox Searchlight is currently courting their Oscar-winning Black Swan star Natalie Portman to front the film, which will focus on the events following the gruesome death of Jackie’s husband, and how the mourning First Lady handled the aftermath. Portman is reportedly intrigued by the script penned by Noah Oppenheim, but is reluctant to sign on until a director is selected.

Curiously, an early incarnation of this package had her Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky attached with his then-wife Rachel Weisz meant to star. Neither is currently associated with the project, but perhaps with Portman’s interest piqued, Aronofsky would be keen to reteam once his ambitious epic Noah wraps. However, if the Aronofsky ship has sailed, it’s likely Fox will be able to land another director who could lure Portman to commit. Apparently Steven Spielberg considered helming the project back in 2010, so there must be something special about this Jackie.

Should she sign on, Portman would join a long but illustrious list of actresses who have stepped into Jackie O’s shoes and classic pillbox hat. Most recently, Katie Holmes played the part in the mini-series The Kennedys, and Minka Kelly will appear as Lady O in Lee Daniels’ upcoming White House-set saga The Butler.

[From Cinema Blend]

Wait, Aronofsky was attached to a Jackie Kennedy bio-pic? That is one of the weirdest and most random things I’ve ever heard. As for the choice of Natalie to portray one of the most famous FLOTUSs in the history of America, why not? Natalie would do a better job than Katie Holmes, I’m positive. I’m a little bit perturbed by the idea that Natalie would be playing a post-White House version of Jackie, though. Natalie just doesn’t look old enough. Did anyone ever seen that Kennedy Wives miniseries that was on TV maybe… a decade ago? Jill Hennessy played Jackie in that one, and Lauren Holly played Ethyl Kennedy (RFK’s wife). It was actually a half-decent miniseries.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

I was sad earlier this week because we didn’t have those crazy photos of Natalie Portman debuting her new “blonde” hair at an event at the Disney Concert Hall – you can see those photos here. She was wearing a giant wedding-cake dress and her hair looked dramatically lighter. Anyway, these are some new photos of Natalie at LAX yesterday, and you can get somewhat of a decent look at her new hair. It doesn’t look all that different in these pics, though. I really don’t call this shade “blonde”. I call it “light brunette with some honey and blonde highlights”. Her hair looks darker than Jennifer Aniston’s, and I’ve always considered Jennifer’s caramel-colored hair to be brunette too (even though she calls it blonde).

Natalie claims her lighter hair is for an upcoming film project, but she isn’t identifying which one. Let me check her IMDB… it’s either the Thor sequel or the Terrence Malick film she’s working on. I would guess the Malick film? Sure. Natalie told THR that “My mom says I’m like a different person” with her new hair. Seriously, y’all? It’s not THAT different.

Sidenote: I’m reviewing the photos again… okay, it’s blonder than I originally saw. It really depends on the light.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.