Natalie Portman to Play Jackie Kennedy in Film About JFK's Death

Natalie Portman at Cannes (Getty Images)

by John Hopewell

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 whilePablo Larrain (No) directs.

Wild Bunch’s newly launched L.A.-based sales company Insiders is selling international on what is sure to be one of the hottest tickets at this year’s Cannes. CAA reps U.S. domestic rights.

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.

Larrain will direct Jackie right after completing the Funny Balloons-soldNeruda, which rolls in June.

Jackie Kennedy and Natalie Portman (AP and Getty Images)

Insiders will rep movies budgeted at $15 million and above. “The bottom line is that the films will still reflect our taste. Insiders will still bring European soft money to reduce risk,” he added, saying that Insiders’ Hollywood base is because “most equity people we have talked to are based out of L.A..”

Jackie joins a fast emerging Insiders first market slate that includes Jeff Nichols’ 1960s-set mixed race couple drama Loving, Sean Penn’sFlag Day, starring Dylan Penn, and Sicario screenwriter Taylor Sheridan’s mystery thriller Wind River, with Chris Pine and Elizabeth Olsen.