Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).
Preview:
A ‘V for Vendetta’ TV series is in the works at HBO.
It’ll adapt the Alan Moore comic book series, which became a film in 2006.
Pete Jackson is writing the show.
Given the perilous political climate we’re experiencing right now, it seems somehow fitting that ‘V for Vendetta’ –– a story of the fight back against a fascistic regime –– is getting another shot at screens.
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Variety reports that HBO and DC Studios are developing a new series based on the Alan Moore comics series from the 1980s, though nothing is official just yet.
DC and HBO did not comment for the trade magazine’s story, and at time of writing, we’ve yet to hear DC Studios boss James Gunn weigh in on whether this is truly happening. So, pinch of salt at the ready!
(L to R): Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).
‘V for Vendetta’ began life as a comic serial written by Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. It debuted in 1982 in the British anthology “Warrior,” with DC taking over publishing it in 1988.
The story is set in Britain in a dystopian, not-too-distant future in which the country is controlled by the fascistic Norsefire party.
An anarchist named V, known for his distinctive Guy Fawkes mask, seeks to topple the government with the help of Evey Hammond, a young woman V rescued from the country’s secret police.
Warner Bros. produced a 2006 movie adaptation starring Hugo Weaving playing V (and in some scenes, dubbing his voice over the performance of James Purefoy, who was originally cast) and Natalie Portman as Evey.
Who is working on the potential new ‘V for Vendetta’ series?
Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).
Reportedly cranking out the script is Pete Jackson –– no, not the New Zealand based filmmaker famous for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies, instead the UK showrunner responsible for the series ‘Somewhere Boy,’ which aired in 2022.
It’s fair to say that the Marvel movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, have reached “cultural event” status. And there’s a strong case to be made that the MCU is a currently a pop culture juggernaut, the likes of which we haven’t since the original ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy hit theaters for the first time.
It is a great time to watch the Marvel movies in order now and you can watch them all on Disney Plus in 4K format. You can even plan virtual Marvel movie nights with your friends using Disney+ GroupWatch feature.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.
The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.
Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.
Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’
King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).
Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.
The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
John Krasinski in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
There was a time in the 1990s when big-name actors could be tempted outside their usual attempts to win awards with challenging dramatic work and have some fun appearing in rip-roaring adventures after ancient artifacts, dodging life-threatening peril and trading quips.
And before that, the 1980s brought us all manner of satisfying throwback adventures, led by the immaculately directed delights of the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise. These days, the genre tends to paddle in the shallow end of straight-to-home entertainment releases or, as in the case of ‘Fountain of Youth,’ streaming.
But can this new offering live up to that grand tradition?
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Guy Ritchie and star John Krasinski behind-the-scenes of ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
A big issue with the new movie lies in its script. Crafted by James Vanderbilt, whose career has swung wildly between the acclaimed likes of ‘Zodiac,’ the fun action nonsense of ‘White House Down’ and misbegotten misfires including ‘Independence Day: Resurgence,’ this new ‘Fountain’ sputters more than it should.
Vanderbilt cobbles together a blend of the aforementioned Indy franchise entries, the more high-tech and fight-orientated world of ‘Mission: Impossible’ and the “path to something important hidden within esoterica” plot fuel of Dan Brown.
Yet it’s not a mixture that always works. Yes, there are the requisite globe-trotting action sequences, a few moments of entertaining banter for the leads and of course some twists and turns, but it’s all so off the peg, an uncomfortable patchwork of seen-it-before wannabe thrills and lucky escapes.
It’s all very well to try and stand on the shoulders of giants –– we see you, veiled reference to Doctor Jones in the name of Krasinski and Portman’s characters’ name: Harrison Purdue –– but you have to have something innovate in exchange. This new outing doesn’t ever hit that stride.
How many times can our heroes stumble on their latest clue, only to be ambushed by their antagonists, and then turn things around for a lucky (and more than one instance, logic-defying) escape? If the evidence of ‘Fountain of Youth’ is to be believed, it’s many more times than is believable, and indeed it all becomes tiring by the end.
(L to R) Natalie Portman, Benjamin Chivers, John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson and Michael Epp in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Guy Ritchie, meanwhile, has been a genre-hopping directorial journeyman for some time now, but seems to flourish when he’s given full reign to embrace his violent, jokey style as seen in recent Netflix series ‘The Gentlemen.’
Here, it’s as if he’s working with kid gloves on; while he’s certainly produced effective, family-friendly material in the past, this is a poor example of him toning himself down. A few of the set pieces are solid with some diverting stunts, but all in all, this is a blandly clockwork chore.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Natalie Portman, John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson, Carmen Ejogo and Laz Alonso in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
While you can absolutely imagine John Krasinski seeing this as solid extension to his nice-guy-turned-action-hero brand after years spent playing Jack Ryan, the character of treasure hunter Luke Purdue only sometimes works to his strengths.
Krasinski certainly doesn’t lack for charisma and he sells some of the cheesier lines; he’s also decent when it comes to the action (again, partly thanks to his time as Ryan).
And when he and Natalie Portman are trading sibling barbs, the movie feels like it more lives up to its promise, the pair sharing some entertaining on-screen family chemistry.
Portman is a more surprising performer to show up in a movie like this, though we imagine the appeal of having fun on set with Krasinski and a solid Apple-backed payday is probably more the reason she took the gig rather than something she saw in the script.
Eiza González in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
As the third main character, Eiza González does just enough to make her relatively stock badass character watchable –– she’s also effective when it comes to the action, but as one of the “protectors” looking to stop Luke on his mission for seemingly noble reasons, it’s not always enough to overcome a generic role.
Likewise Domhnall Gleeson, who has little to do as Owen Carver, the ailing rich mogul bankrolling Luke’s search. Gleeson has a couple of moments, but it’s largely a waste of a decent actor.
Still, he comes off better than Laz Alonso and Carmen Ejogo, who play Murph and Deb, Luke’s support team. They’re mostly there to deliver the exposition, and that’s usually provided in big, ungainly lumps around tables.
Beyond a few memorable moments as driven Interpol agent Abbas, Arian Moayed likewise is given little chance to shine.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson and Natalie Portman in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Does ‘Fountain of Youth’ keep the flame of fun adventure movies from the 1980s and 1990s burning? Not really.
This is a less-than-thrilling example of the genre which certainly starts promisingly and has a few decent lines or moments here and there (fans of ‘Knight Rider’ might be happy at one, and no, we don’t mean The Hoff shows up), but it’s not enough to keep it from feeling stale.
You could certainly watch this. But you’d choose… poorly.
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What’s the story of ‘Fountain of Youth’?
The new movie follows two estranged siblings (John Krasinski and Natalie Portman) who partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth.
They must use their knowledge of history to follow clues on an epic adventure that will change their lives… and possibly lead to immortality.
(Left) Natalie Portman. (Right) Jenna Ortega attends the world premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ on November 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix.
Preview:
Jenna Ortega and Natalie Portman are in talks to star in ‘The Gallerist.’
Cathy Yan co-wrote and would direct the movie.
It’ll follow an art gallery owner with a desperate plan.
While not every movie that Jenna Ortega has appeared in since ‘Wednesday’ helped her profile skyrocket has been a winner, you just know that any filmmaker would be happy to have her even consider appearing in their work.
And before you ask, no “gallerist” does not mean someone who is prejudiced against art galleries; it means the owner/manager of one.
What’s the story of ‘The Gallerist’?
Natalie Portman attends Netflix’s ‘May December’ Los Angeles premiere at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Netflix.
Per Deadline, ‘The Gallerist’ will follow a desperate art gallery owner who attends the Art Basel show (an annual shindig featuring over 250 of international galleries showing the works of more than 4,000 artists) in Miami with an audacious plan to sell a dead man at the show.
At least, that’s the basic logline for the movie, which Yan co-wrote alongside James Pedersen (‘High Heat’). It could, in other hands, be a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’–style romp, though we have a feeling Yan will be opting for a sharper, more satirical edge to her movie.
There’s no word on exactly what either actor would play in the movie –– our guess at this point is Portman as the gallerist –– and it remains to be seen if they hop aboard at all, as their deals have yet to close.
And the actor has also been working with Burton on Season 2 of ‘Wednesday,’ which should be hitting Netflix next year.
On the movie front, she has found time for a role in Taika Waititi’s next film, ‘Klara and the Sun,’ will be seen in musical mystery thriller ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ and worked on ‘Death of a Unicorn.’
There have also been rumors that she’ll be part of the cast for J.J. Abrams’ mysterious new movie.
She has a voice role in new Roald Dahl animated adaptation ‘The Twits’ and recently finished work on Guy Ritchie’s new fantasy adventure movie ‘Fountain of Youth.’
When will ‘The Gallerist’ be on screens?
While ‘The Gallerist’ appears to be gaining momentum, it has yet to lock in a distribution home, so we’ll have to wait and see when it might arrive in theaters or on streaming.
(L to R) Mikey Madison and Natalie Portman in ‘Lady in the Lake,’ premiering July 19, 2024 on Apple TV+.
(L to R) Moses Ingram and Natalie Portman star in Apple TV+’s ‘Lady in the Lake’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram about their work on ‘Lady in the Lake,’ their approach to their characters, similarities between the two women, and working with director Alma Har’el.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Portman and Ingram, as well as Y’llan Noel, Byron Bowers, Josiah Cross, Noah Jupe and director Alma Har’el.
Natalie Portman in ‘Lady in the Lake,’ premiering July 19, 2024 on Apple TV+.
Moviefone: To begin with, Natalie, can you talk about your approach to playing Maddie, a character who is really discovering who she is for herself as the series unfolds?
Natalie Portman: Well, I think that something that’s exciting with Maddie is she’s someone who’s bottled up her personality for so long that it kind of explodes and then she kind of overdoes everything. So, it was exciting to have that kind of exploration. It was very different because I’ve never done a series before, so I’ve never had that amount of space to explore a character. Alma created incredible space for us to improvise, find detail, play, and it was fun. Just with creating the character and with other actors who also had created these very detailed characters, she would leave the end of takes open that we could just keep improvising back and forth. There were some treasures that came out of that, and beautiful moments that she just allowed us to have. You must have some breathing room to find those things.
Moses Ingram in ‘Lady in the Lake,’ premiering July 19, 2024 on Apple TV+.
MF: Moses, can you talk about your approach to playing Cleo and her motivation to protect her family and give them a better life?
Moses Ingram: I mean, I don’t have children of my own, but I can see in mothers around me, my own mother, that you always want yours to have better than you did. I think that’s certainly the thing that drives her. When life is hard, people make decisions that other people might not understand. I think that’s kind of the position that Cleo is in. But she does it for her kids, for sure.
(L to R) Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram in ‘Lady in the Lake,’ premiering July 19, 2024 on Apple TV+.
MF: Maddie and Cleo are completely different people, but at the same time are very similar in a lot of ways. Can you talk about that?
MI: I mean, women in the 60s, they couldn’t even have credit cards without a man attached. Trying to make very simple decisions like getting rid of your car, for example. Things like that make it very hard to get a leg up on your own. I think that’s where these two women meet, and I think that’s where the universality lies between the two of them. Obviously, it’s different because of the intersectionality of it all, but alike and different. I think there’s space for many women to see themselves here.
(L to R) Natalie Portman with creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer and director Alma Har’el for ‘Lady in the Lake,’ premiering July 19, 2024 on Apple TV+.
MF: Finally, Natalie, can you talk about working on set with director Alma Har’el and collaborating with her to execute her vision for this project?
NP: Alma is extraordinary. I mean, I was in awe of her every day. She comes with full energy, full positivity, full creativity, a very precise and beautiful vision that she communicates well, creating space for other people to participate and collaborate, and then managed to do that every day for months and months and months and months. She wrote everything. I mean, she had a team that she wrote with, but she led the writing. She directed every episode. She cut everything. I mean, she’s a boss. I am in awe of her and love her dearly.
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What is the plot of ‘Lady in the Lake’?
In 1960s Baltimore, an investigative journalist (Natalie Portman) working on an unsolved murder, clashes with a woman (Angela Robinson) working to advance the agenda of the city’s black community. The protagonist ditches her doting husband (Brett Gelman) and big Pikesville home to pursue a career as a newspaper reporter. She becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery of two separate killings: eleven-year-old Tessie Fine and a bartender named Cleo Sherwood (Moses Ingram).
Appearing in-person were Zack and Deborah Snyder, Craig Robinson, Nick Kroll and Nathan Lane
Netflix announced several new animated movies and TV shows
Timothy Olyphant will voice the Terminator in ‘Terminator Zero’ and Hayley Atwell will voice Lara Croft in ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’
On Thursday June 6th, in Hollywood, Netflix held their Next on Netflix Animation Preview where they presented many of their upcoming animated movies and TV shows.
Moviefone had the pleasure of attending the event, with other members of the press, and even had a chance to speak one on one with Zach Snyder about his work on ‘Twilight of the Gods’.
Host Christopher Sean at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
The event began with a sizzle reel of Netflix’s upcoming animated projects, which you can watch above. Below is a list of projects presented at the event.
Adult series from action with ‘Arcane’, ‘Twilight of the Gods’ and ‘Terminator Zero’, to comedy with ‘Exploding Kittens’ and the final season of ‘Big Mouth’.
Following the success of all-audience hits like ‘The Sea Beast’ and ‘Leo’, come new films including ‘The Imaginary’, ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’, ‘Spellbound’, ‘That Christmas’, ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’, ‘The Twits’, ‘K-Pop: Demon Hunters’, ‘Plankton: The Movie’, ‘Pookoo’; and series like ‘Motel Transylvania’ and ‘Jurassic World: Chaos Theory’.
Preschool shows featuring little ones’ favorite friends with ‘CoComelon’, ‘CoComelon Lane’, and ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’, which collectively amassed more than 650M views last year.
The presentation saw the debut of images and footage from many of Netflix’s upcoming animated projects. Among the first look images presented were photos from Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’, the SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’, the new Wallace and Gromit movie ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ and from ‘Love Actually’ filmmaker Richard Curtis, ‘That Christmas’.
‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.
The event also included several cast and project announcements including Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke joining ‘Twits’, Simu Liu joining Craig Robinson in ‘In Your Dreams,’ Timothy Olyphant voicing the Terminator in ‘Terminator Zero’ and Hayley Atwell playing the lead character in ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’. Other announcements included another SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff ‘Plankton: The Movie’, as well as a TV series based on the ‘Hotel Transylvania’ franchise called ‘Motel Transylvania’.
We also screened footage from the series ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’, ‘Terminator Zero’, and ‘Twilight of the Gods’, as well as a teaser for a ‘Minecraft’ series, and concept art from upcoming ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Stranger Things’ animated shows. Footage from ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’, ‘In Your Dreams’, ‘That Christmas’, ‘The Twits’, and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ was also shown.
‘Big Mouth’s Final Season
Nick Kroll at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
Comedian and actor Nick Kroll was on hand to discuss the 8th and final season of his popular adult comedy ‘Big Mouth’, and introduced a table read montage video from the series.
“We started ‘Big Mouth’ eight years ago. Season Eight will be coming out early next year. It’s our final season of the show. I think about where when we started, ‘BoJack Horseman’ had come out and we were in the next little round of animation at a time when Netflix itself was just beginning to do original programming. We had unbelievable freedom to create exactly the show we wanted to make. Netflix really gave us the freedom to do that. Eight seasons later, we will be the longest running series in Netflix history for an adult series. I’m incredibly proud of that and I’m proud of how we’ve made the show. I’m proud of the partnership we’ve had with Netflix, and it’s just been an unbelievable joy creating this show with Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett and Andrew Goldberg, our unbelievable cast, our unbelievable writers, and are unbelievable storyboard artists, editors, everyone involved in the engineering of it, the producers, and our partners at Titmouse. This has been an incredible labor of love.”
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Craig Robinson’s Dual Roles
Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
Actor, comedian, and singer Craig Robinson took the stage to discuss two upcoming films he will appear in. First, he introduced a scene from ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’.
“Hey, everybody! I’m here today because SpongeBob is back — and so are his friends. ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’ is coming exclusively to Netflix in August, and I’m so pumped to be in it”
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Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
Robinson then discussed his other Netflix movie, ‘In Your Dreams’ before introducing a video of actor Simu Liu talking about his involvement in the project and presenting a clip from the film.
“As awesome as it was to finally reach a place in my career where I got to voice a Squirrel Dad, it pales in comparison to my next role. I think it proves I’m at the top of my game: A stuffed giraffe. I was told by the filmmakers that I was their first and only choice. They said, “Craig, you were born to play this part.” His name’s Tony Baloney, because he’s stuffed with processed meat. Oh, and he can shoot laser farts. That’s awesome. Daniel Day Lewis had ‘Lincoln’, I got Baloney Tony. I’m already working on my Oscar speech.”
Nathan Lane at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
Before introducing an animation test from the film ‘Pookoo’, acclaimed actor Nathan Lane discussed his upcoming animated movie ‘Spellbound’.
“’Spellbound’ is about Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria. She has a secret; a mysterious spell has turned her parents into monsters! Ellian loves her parents. That’s why she summons the mysterious Oracles of the Sun and Moon. I play the Oracle of the Moon and Tituss Burgess plays the Oracle of the Sun and we come to help her break the spell. The cast also includes some other great actors: Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, and Jenifer Lewis. It also has music by Academy Award winning composer Alan Menken. The film is directed by Vicky Jensen, who also directed a little movie you may have heard of called ‘Shrek.’ ‘Spellbound’ is a big adventure for the whole family, filled with incredible new characters you’ll love. I’m excited to share that the movie, which will release globally on Netflix on November 22, 2024.”
Director Zack Snyder and producer Deborah Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
Director Zack Snyder (‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’) and his wife, producer Deborah Snyder presented footage and images from their new animated series ‘Twilight of the Gods’.
Zack Snyder said this about the series:
“’Twilight of the Gods’ was a show that we’ve been working on for quite some time, years in the making. I’ve always been obsessed with Norse mythology. I think it’s an amazing place. I love mythology in general, and so the idea of being able to dig into this rich tapestry of heroes and gods was an incredible opportunity for both of us. This show is really a story. It’s a story about love and revenge, and it just takes us across this massive and beautiful landscape in pursuit of, well, you’ll have to see.”
Deborah Snyder added this:
“As Zack said, it’s been about just over four years in the making, developing these scripts and then having an in-house team of about 48 artists who developed all the characters and the worlds. In animation, nothing is for free. Every prop and everything, as you know, must be created. We were so lucky to be able to work with this group of very global artists.”
Director Zack Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.
After the presentation, Moviefone had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Zack Snyder one on one about his new animated project.
Moviefone: To begin with, what drew you to adapting Norse mythology for this animated series?
Zack Snyder: Well, we’ve been talking about doing an animated project with Netflix. That had been a conversation that was going on. We had that conversation and are doing an ‘Army of the Dead’ animated series, so that was kind of happening at the same time. This happened because I think (Director) Jay (Oliva) and I were talking about how we both love Norse mythology; wouldn’t it be cool to do something in that world. We started talking to Netflix about it and they said, “Yeah, do that!” So that started us on the journey of developing it.
MF: Finally, I think fans have been waiting for you to adapt this specific mythology for a long time. Did it seem like a no-brainer for you too?
ZS: I think it was easy in us being excited every day. I wasn’t like, “I got to do that Norse mythology thing.” We were utterly and completely off the chain with (the animation) too, so that was cool.
Director Todd Haynes attends Netflix’s ‘May December’ Los Angeles premiere at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Netflix.
Filmmaker Todd Haynes is one of the most acclaimed directors of his generation.
In honor of his latest film, Moviefone is ranking every feature film that Todd Haynes has ever directed, including his documentaries and ‘May December.’
Three intercut stories about outsiders, sex and violence. In “Hero,” Richie, at age 7, kills his father and flies away. After the event, a documentary in cheesy lurid colors asks what Richie was like and what led up to the shooting. In the black and white “Horror,” a scientist isolates the elixir of human sexuality, drinks it, and becomes a festering, contagious murderer; a female colleague who loves him tries to help, to her peril. In “Homo,” a prisoner in Fontenal prison is drawn to an inmate whom he knew some years before, at Baton juvenile institute, and whose humiliations he witnessed. This story is told in dim light, except for the bright flashbacks.
The story of a young boy (Oakes Fegley) in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl (Millicent Simmonds) in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection.
A tenacious attorney (Mark Ruffalo) uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world’s largest corporations. In the process, he risks everything — his future, his family, and his own life — to expose the truth.
Experience the iconic rock band’s legacy in the first major documentary to tell their story. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, Julianne Moore as Gracie, Todd Haynes (Director) on the set of ‘May December.’ Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix.
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.
Carol (Julianne Moore), a typical upper middle-class housewife, begins to complain of vague symptoms of illness. She “doesn’t feel right,” has unexplained headaches, congestion, a dry cough, nosebleeds, vomiting, and trouble breathing. Her family doctor treats her concerns dismissively and suggests a psychiatrist. Eventually, an allergist tells her that she has Environmental Illness.
Almost a decade has elapsed since Bowiesque glam-rock superstar Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) escaped the spotlight of the London scene. Now, investigative journalist Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) is on assignment to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic Slade. Stuart, himself forged by the music of the 1970s, explores the larger-than-life stars who were once his idols and what has become of them since the turn of the new decade.
Six actors (Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger) portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in ‘May December.’ Photo: Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix.
Premiering on Netflix December 1st, ‘May December’ is the new dramatic film from Todd Haynes, who reunites once again with Julianne Moore. This time, Natalie Portman joins for a complicated story of truth, reputation, perception and performance.
Haynes, as ever, is a reliable filmmaker for a female-fronted story of controversial passion (he handled the subject delicately and winningly with ‘Carol’), but here it’s as if he also gives in to a notion of melodrama that doesn’t always work, and a distracting score choice doesn’t help that.
Is ‘May December’ one to mark your calendar about?
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry with Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in ‘May December.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
With Haynes, Moore and Portman driving the film, there remains something watchable and compelling about the movie, with the leads (along with an impressive Charles Melton) keeping your attention as the story dives towards its conclusion.
But a few off-putting elements ring somewhat false in the tale as a whole, and this is certainly a movie that will divide audiences. How you react may depend on your viewpoint on the subjects under Haynes’ microscope here, and how much sympathy you have for any of the characters.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, Julianne Moore as Gracie, Todd Haynes (Director) on the set of ‘May December.’ Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix.
The screenplay for ‘May December’ is by Samy Burch, working from a story she created with Alex Mechanik. Though the roots are found in the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau, a schoolteacher who was convicted of child sexual abuse of the 12-year-old (Vili Fualaau) who was among her students. Letourneau ended up having his child while awaiting sentencing and they married when she was released from prison.
‘May December’ is not a 1-1 adaptation of that story (it is, at best, “loosely based”) but Burch has certainly included plenty of elements, including a moment inspired by a controversial TV appearance of the couple where Fualaau is badgered into saying he initiated the relationship. Those power dynamics run through the script, though it also layers on plenty of emotional instability, particularly in the character of Gracie (Moore), who, it is slowly revealed to have some severe issues. Well, we say slowly, but the signs are there from the start, especially in an exclamation about hot dogs that has gone on to be much-quoted, with the story leaving such little clues in the open.
Haynes, meanwhile, chooses some unusual ways of ramping up the drama, including the use of score cues from 1971 movie ‘The Go-Between’ (adapted by composer Marcelo Zarvos), which he employs effectively. Yet there remains a lingering issue with the tone of the movie, one that feels ill-fitting for the morally problematic story at its core. A story of child abuse isn’t perhaps the best foundation for a nudge-wink story of egos, deception and emotional breakdowns –– no matter how artistically used they might be.
Also slightly awkward is the crammed-in metaphor of butterflies, which Gracie’s husband Joe (Charles Melton) nurtures –– they’re a decent character beat for him, but they feel like a giant neon sign pointing to the nature of his and Gracie’s relationship.
‘May December’: Performances
(L to R) Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo with Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry in ‘May December.’ Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix.
Julianne Moore naturally shines when she’s working with Haynes, who directed her to an Oscar nomination via ‘Far From Heaven’. As Gracie, she’s a complicated mix of personalities, a seemingly together member of the community who hides a torrent of different feelings and could snap at any moment.
Moore walks that line with aplomb, and if the script doesn’t always support her, she’s never less than committed.
Portman, meanwhile, is also great, though she’s somewhat saddled with the vaguely cliched role of the actor searching for inspiration who pushes things too far in the name of research. Elizbeth has her own checkered past, and moral conflicts, and while some of her moves are predictable (a late turn liaison in particular), Portman rounds out the role.
In a smaller but still important role, Charles Melton is impressive as Joe, who seems to have matured into a perfect husband, but is revealed to have a mountain of hang-ups and issues spawned from how their relationship began.
Around the leads, the various children of the main couple are all believable, while special mention must go to Cory Michael Smith as Georgie, Gracie’s first born, who is now a cynical musician. As he starts to lobby for a role in the movie that Elizabeth will star in about Gracie and Joe’s story, he becomes more and more manipulative.
‘May December’: Final Thoughts
(L to R) Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo and Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry in ‘May December.’ Photo: Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix.
‘May December’ will certainly not be for everyone. Haynes has delivered a typically well-crafted drama here, but the subject matter sometimes slips from his fingers despite solid performances from the cast.
It just feels like the tone is misjudged in places; the heightened dramatic aspect ill-suited to such a difficult story. Still, expect it to be in contention as awards season progresses.
‘May December’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘May December’?
After their relationship ignited a tabloid saga two decades ago, Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) now lead a seemingly perfect suburban life. Their domestic bliss is disrupted when Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), a famous television actress, arrives in their tight-knit community to research her upcoming role as Gracie.
As Elizabeth ingratiates herself into the everyday lives of Gracie and Joe, the uncomfortable facts of their scandal unfurl, causing long-dormant emotions to resurface.
(L to R) Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman attend Netflix’s ‘May December’ Los Angeles premiere at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Netflix.
Natalie Portman attends Netflix’s ‘May December’ Los Angeles premiere at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Netflix.
Natalie Portman has been acting professionally for over 30 years and has appeared in some of the biggest franchises and most beloved films of all time.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala (Portman), Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) investigate a mysterious plot that could change the galaxy forever.
In this classic story of love and devotion set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier named W.P. Inman (Jude Law) deserts his unit and travels across the South, aiming to return to his young wife, Ada (Nicole Kidman), who he left behind to tend their farm. As Inman makes his perilous journey home, Ada struggles to keep their home intact with the assistance of Ruby (Renee Zellweger), a mysterious drifter sent to help her by a kindly neighbor.
Against his father Odin’s will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
A young boy (Devin Brochu) has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father and the world around him. Then he meets Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who manages to make his life even more chaotic.
(L to R) Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.’
Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world’s major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, “come in peace.” U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians’ mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
The evil Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) enacts his final plan for unlimited power — and the heroic Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) must choose a side.
Natalie Portman in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Photo courtesy of Disney Studios.
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight’s Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.
Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in ‘May December.’ Photo: Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix.
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under pressure when an actress (Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.
A journey through the psyche of a young ballerina (Portman) whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.
In a world in which Great Britain has become a fascist state, a masked vigilante known only as “V” (Hugo Weaving) conducts guerrilla warfare against the oppressive British government. When V rescues a young woman (Portman) from the secret police, he finds in her an ally with whom he can continue his fight to free the people of Britain.
Léon (Jean Reno), the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective “cleaner”. But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda (Portman). Before long, Mathilda’s thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon’s footsteps.
(L to R) Natalie Portman and Zach Braff in ‘Garden State.’ Photo: Searchlight Pictures.
Andrew (Zach Braff) returns to his hometown for the funeral of his mother, a journey that reconnects him with past friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam (Portman) – a girl also suffering from various maladies – opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional attachments, confronting his psychologist father (Ian Holm), and perhaps beginning a new life.
(L to R) Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman attend Netflix’s ‘May December’ Los Angeles premiere at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Natasha Campos/Getty Images for Netflix.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking in-person with Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman about their work on ‘May December,’ preparing to play their complex characters, why Portman sent the script to Haynes, and what Moore loves about working with the acclaimed director.
(L to R) Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman star in Netflix’s ‘May December.’
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Moore and Portman, as well as Charles Melton and director Todd Haynes.
Moviefone: To begin with, Julianne, can you talk about the challenges of playing a character like Gracie, finding a way to empathize with her and really see the world from her point of view?
Julianne Moore: That’s always the challenge, every time you do anything. Point of view is so important, because you realize that’s where stories are told. As an actor, you’re coming from the inside, but you also must be aware of what story the director is telling. So, there’s this dual focus. But to me, she was fascinating, because she is somebody who swallowed feminine culture whole, however she was raised, and she talks about her father, her brothers, the things that she pursued and what her expectations were. So, she’s learned to navigate the world from that vantage point, from this idea that this hyper-femininity and this almost less-than adult quality, like a childlike quality, that’s her best defense in the world. But then she’s done this truly transgressive thing, and she’s crossed a boundary. Her story about how that happened and who she was exists up here. That’s what she wants Elizabeth to follow. But maybe what really happened is here somewhere. So, there’s a tremendous amount of tension in her own personhood.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in ‘May December.’ Photo: Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix.
MF: Natalie, Elizabeth is an actress and obviously you’re an actress as well. How did your own life experience as an actress help inform the character and give you a way into understanding her intentions?
Natalie Portman: Well, I was lucky that I had 30 years of research for the part. So, I think it gives you an awareness of the layers of performance. Who you are in real life, who you are to other people, how people see you, your awareness of how they see you, how you want them to see you, and how you want them to see your character. Then there’s all these levels of how you perform for other people, even more so than the average woman who also is performing on multiple levels, and the average person who is also performing on multiple levels. So, exploring that and the contradictions between all of those was really fun.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, Julianne Moore as Gracie, Todd Haynes (Director) on the set of ‘May December.’ Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix.
MF: Julianne, you’ve worked with Todd Haynes in the past. What was it like working with him again, particularly on this project, and what do you love about working with him?
JM: I love everything about him. I really do. I think that he gives you so much shape when you’re working. There’s so much construction around everything. You always know what the context is. He tells a story with the way that he shoots you, with the way you’re framed, and with all his references, and how he casts around you. He does a lot of the work for you. In this case, I think we were both excited to tell this story about these very strong women in this intimate relationship that was admiring, combative, compelling and unusual. You never, ever get to see that on screen. Generally, you see a love story or a familial relationship, but not where these two women are so equally matched where they go head-to-head like this.
(L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry with Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in ‘May December.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
MF: Finally, Natalie, I understand that you first sent the screenplay to Todd Haynes. Why did you feel that he was the right director for this project?
NP: Well, I had dreamed of working with Todd. I’ve admired his films for so long, and particularly his collaborations with Julie. I mean, ‘Safe’ is one of the all-time greatest movies for me and all-time greatest performances. So, I had sent him a few things over the years that he wasn’t interested in doing. When I got this, I was like, “Let me try again.” This was just the lucky one that he liked. I mean, this was a big win. I felt very lucky, and then he brought Julie, which was even greater. So, it was the joy of life.
MF: Were you hoping that Todd would cast Julianne as well?
NP: You know, I don’t think I even dared to dream that that would happen. I was really blown away when it did.
JM: He slipped me the script. He was like, “Just heads up. There’s this thing that Natalie Portman just sent me.” I was like, “Oh my God, this is amazing.” Then I think he went back to Natalie and was like, “I think this could be something for Julie.” But it was very strange. It all happened like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. We were lucky.
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What is the plot of ‘May December’?
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) with a large age gap buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.
(L to R) Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo with Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry in ‘May December.’ Photo: François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix.
