Natalie Portman to Star in ‘Days of Abandonment’

Variety.com: Natalie Portman has signed on to lead the cast of the upcoming HBO Films production “The Days of Abandonment.”

The movie, which is currently in pre-production, is based on the  of the same name. In the film, when Tess (Portman), a woman who abandoned her own dreams for a stable home life, is in turn abandoned by her husband, her world is thrown off its axis.

Maggie Betts will write, direct, and executive produce the adaptation. Portman will executive produce in addition to starring along with Sophie Mas under the pair’s MountainA production banner. Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler of Maven Screen Media will also executive produce, as will Len Amato of Crash&Salvage, Ferrante, Domenico Procacci of Fandango, and Maria Zuckerman. “The Days of Abandonment” will be produced in association with Medusa.

News of Portman’s involvement in the film comes about a month after it was announced the Academy Award-winning actress will star in the Apple limited series “Lady in the Lake,” which is based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lipman. Portman will star in that project opposite fellow Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. Shortly after that show was announced, Apple revealed that MountainA had signed a first-look deal with the streamer.

In addition to her Oscar win for “Black Swan,” Portman received Academy Award nominations for her roles in the films “Closer” and “Jackie.” Her other notable feature roles include “Léon: The Professional,” the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, “V for Vendetta,” and “Annihilation.”

She is repped by CAA and attorney George Sheanshang.