Natalie Portman has apparently pulled out of John Maybury's upcoming adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" for HanWay Films says The Hollywood Reporter.

Portman's exit has left the financiers, sellers and producers in a panic just days ahead of this year's Cannes Film Festival where the project was to be sold to distributors.

Emily Bronte's novel details the intense love story between the rich Catherine Earnshaw (Portman's former role) and a foundling brought from the slums of Liverpool named Heathcliff. Olivia Hetreed's screenplay apparently steers the subject matter away from the "stuffy costume drama" format.

HanWay is hoping to have a replacement for Portman "within days" in the role of Cathy.