HBO has formally pulled the plug on the telemovie adaptation of “My Brilliant Friend” author Elena Ferrante’s novel “Days of Abandonment”.
Oscar-winner Natalie Portman was set to star in the work, but in a statement the network says that Portman has stepped down prior to the start of filming “due to unforeseen personal reasons”.
The production will not move forward without her: “We are very sorry we won’t be able to bring this beautiful story to the screen with our talented writer-director and cast. We send our sincere thanks to our cast, producers, and crew for all their passion and hard work.”
The film would have followed a woman (Portman) who abandons her own dreams for a stable home life and is in turn abandoned by her husband (Rafe Spall), throwing her world off its axis and traversing the darkest reaches of her own psyche. Mary-Louise Parker would’ve also starred.
The project was due to begin filming soon in Sydney, Australia after receiving a $3.4 million grant from local officials. Maggie Betts (“Novitiate”) adapted the script and was set to direct and executive produce alongside Portman.
Source: THR
