“Gravity” Pulls Portman

No Angelina Jolie? No problem. 

Remember last week when we heard how Angelina Jolie’s rejection of the lead role in Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity” could scuttle the project? Warner Brothers and Cuaron felt that Jolie was practically the only actress who had the combination of star power, box office draw, and dramatic skills (yes, I am putting that one last) to carry off a role that has the character alone much of the time, in a solo performance similar to Tom Hanks in “Castaway,” or James Franco in the upcoming “127 Hours.” Though numerous other actresses expressed interest in the role (including Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively), none were considered right for the project. Robert Downey Jr. has signed on for a role in the project, and though he is a very big name, it’s undeniably a supporting part, and not something that can be used to sell the movie. The effects-heavy movie is budgeted at about $80 million. That would buy about one quarter of a James Cameron budget, but it’s a lot for a female-centered sci fi movie.

Well, never fear. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cuaron and the studio have agreed to offer the role to Natalie Portman, without a screen test. She has the latest version of the script and will be making a decision soon. “Gravity,” by the way, if you haven’t been following, “centers on a woman stranded on a space station after satellite debris slams into it and wipes out the rest of the crew.” The movie is expected to begin shooting in January.

Portman is a hot property right now, with tremendous awards buzz coming from her role in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Black Swan.” It’s not just a matter of whether she likes the “Gravity” script–it’s whether she likes it better than some of the other things she’s being offered right now. Supposedly the suddenly prolific Terrence Malick wants her for a role in a Jerry Lee Lewis biopic he’s working on with Brad Pitt, while Tom Stoppard is also said to be writing something for her. Not like I have any right to question Mr. Malick, and I’m not an expert on Jerry Lee Lewis, but it sure seems like Portman does not fit in that venue. The Stoppard project is probably a long way away, too. She should probably take “Gravity.” Not like anyone’s taking my career advice.

Besides “The Black Swan,” Portman has some other movies coming out in the next few months: the romantic comedy “No Strings” in January, the plain old comedy “Your Highness” in April and the Marvel/Paramount comic book actioner “Thor” in May.