Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore to Star in Todd Haynes' 'May December'

Samy Burch wrote the script that will kick off production next year

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Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are set to star in the next film from “Carol” director Todd Haynes, a drama titled “May December.”

Haynes is directing the film based on a script by Samy Burch (with a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik) and production is set to begin next year. It’ll be the sixth time that Moore and Haynes have worked together, including on her Oscar-nominated performance in “Far From Heaven.”

“May December” is described as an “exploration of truth” and the impossibility of trying to fully understand another person. The movie follows a woman who 20 years earlier had a notorious tabloid romance with a man who was 23 years younger than her. Now as their twins prepare to graduate high school, a Hollywood actress comes to visit in order to better understand her and portray her in a movie. But their family dynamics begin to unravel with the pressure of the outside gaze, leading the woman’s husband to begin to confront what happened and what it means to be an empty-nester when he’s just 36 years old.

“What so appealed to me about Samy Burch’s exceptional script was how it navigated potentially volatile subject matter with a kind of observational patience that allowed the characters in the story to be explored with uncommon subtlety,” Todd Haynes said in a statement.

Rocket Science will present the films to international buyers at Cannes, and UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are co-representing the film’s U.S. rights.

Producing “May December” are Jessica Elbaum and Will Ferrell of Gloria Sanchez Productions, Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler of Killer Films. Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas will also produce under their MountainA banner.

Haynes is awfully busy, as his documentary film “The Velvet Underground,” about the legendary rock band, is among the films slated to make its premiere at Cannes next month. He’s also recently set Michelle Williams to star as Peggy Lee in his biopic “Fever.”

Portman will next be seen in “Thor: Love and Thunder” from director Taika Waititi and recently wrapped principal photography on the film. She’s also starring in an HBO film “The Days of Abandonment.”

Julianne Moore will next star in Universal’s musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” She just starred in “The Woman in the Window” alongside Amy Adams and currently stars in “Lisey’s Story” for Apple TV+.

Rocket Science’s Cannes slate includes Sean Penn’s “Flag Day,” which is playing in competition and was just picked up by MGM. Some other upcoming projects include Zach Braff’s next film “A Good Person,” starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman, and the Robbie Williams biopic “Better Man” from director Michael Gracey.

Haynes is represented by CAA and Cinetic Media; Portman is represented by CAA and Agence Adequat; Moore by WME and Management 360; Burch is represented by Grandview; and Elbaum, Ferrell and Gloria Sanchez are represented by UTA, Mosaic and attorneys Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

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