Books, News, Television

Natalie Portman and Marta Kauffman Team Up for HBO Miniseries

Natalie Portman in “A Tale of Love and Darkness”

Natalie Portman has signed on for her first major TV role. The Oscar winner is teaming up with “Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman for a miniseries at HBO. Deadline reports that Portman will star in “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves,” based on Karen Joy Fowler’s award-winning 2013 novel of the same name. The “Black Swan” actress has also signed on to executive produce.

Fowler’s book centers on Rosemary (Portman), a university student determined to make a fresh start at an out-of-state college. Rosemary moves away from her hometown in part to escape her reputation as “monkey girl,” a cruel nickname she was assigned on account of her sister Fern — a chimpanzee. From the time of both of their births, Rosemary and Fern were raised together for the purpose of an experiment by Rosemary’s father, a psychologist. But long before Rosemary heads away for college, Fern has been removed from the family home, and the repressed family never truly deals with the grief that comes with Fern’s absence.

Christopher Monger (“Temple Grandin”) will adapt the book. Gideon Raff (“Homeland”) is set to EP alongside Portman and Okay Goodnight’s Kauffman and Robbie Tollin. Hannah KS Canter, also of Okay Goodnight, will co-produce.

Portman has previously appeared in guest spots for “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live,” and lent her voice to “The Simpsons,” but “We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves” marks her first starring role in the medium. She was last seen on the big screen in the feminist western “Jane Got a Gun.” “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” her feature directorial debut, opens August 19.

Kauffman’s Okay Goodnight is also developing an American adaptation of the successful Israeli TV family drama “Shtisel.” The new version of the show, titled “Emmis,” has been acquired by Amazon. Kauffman already has a hit show on a streaming service: she co-created Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” currently in the midst of wrapping production on its third season. The comedy stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.


Teaser Watch: Blake Lively Disappears and Anna Kendrick Vows to Find Her in “A Simple Favor”

Another addictive mystery is moving from bookshelves to the big screen. Following in the footsteps of page-turners such as “Gone Girl” and “Girl on the Train” is “A Simple Favor,” Darcey...

Liz Garbus Directing Docuseries Adaptation of Michelle McNamara’s Golden State Killer Book

Liz Garbus is taking on the Golden State Killer for her next project. Per a press release, the documentarian is helming an HBO docuseries based on Michelle McNamara’s best-selling book “I’ll...

Limited Series About Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor Is in Development

Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be the subject of yet another project — but this time she’ll be joined by fellow trailblazing female Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Variety confirms...

Posts Search

Publishing Dates
Start date
- select start date -
End date
- select end date -
Category
News
Films
Interviews
Features
Trailers
Festivals
Television
RESET