""Swan" centers on a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. But it's unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions.

Those who've read the script say it's a spine-tingler with elements of "The Others," the Nicole Kidman breakout in which viewers are left to discern what's real and what's imagined."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...f13cac7f05baa3b



I can't imagine they'll be able to film this without using doubles for at least a couple of scenes. And "delusions" could lend themselves to some good dance sequences.

It's supposed to be set in New York, so I wonder if they'll get City Ballet dancers as extras, the way they did for Center Stage.

Sounds like it could be, from a ballet perspective, really good or really bad.

Two things:

1. Darren Aronofsky is attached as the director.
2. The project was put into turnaround at Universal and has not yet been picked up by another studio. It's not yet a "done deal" though with these two big names attached (and with CAA selling it) it should most likely get picked up.

Other than that, it sounds like it's going to use the NYCB as a backdrop and not focus too much on it. I'd think it's more a Thriller that just happens to take place in NYC... with a charcter who happens to be a dancer.

-goro-

I'm a fan of Portman and she usually chooses her projects well, but she really doesn't look like a dancer.

Review of the Black Swan script with spoilers:
http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/08/black-swan.html

Ah...if they follow the pathos of Christian Bale's "The Machinist", then it is good stuff...

Actually, GWTW, from the sound of the story as outlined in cinnamonswirl's link, it sounds as if she won't be doing much dancing, although she will be exerting herself in, ahem, other ways. I guess they must be looking to bring in the straight guys.

Reported in today's Times:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/...-on-ballerinas/



I am excited, I can't wait. This is the first mass market main stream movie about ballet for a very long time. (Since Turning Point & White Night?)

but really, i'm speechless...



not at you, mussel!!!!! just at what i am afraid the movie will be like. at least the turning point had herbert ross, nora kaye, alexandra danilova, etc., etc.

I would be the last one to make judgements but seems to me the director of a ballet film should be someone who KNOWS ballet inside and out. Not just the experience of making a film about wrestling of all things. What kind of a background is that for directing ballet scenes? I suppose, like previous films about ballet, (apart of course from Red Shoes and Turning Point) the "ballerinas" will be actors who can dance, a little. But, on the other hand, we may be surprised!

Thanks for posting the link, mussel. I don't think this will be a 'ballet film' in the sense that The Red Shoes and The Turning Point are ballet films - it sounds as if it will be a thriller with a ballet setting, perhaps in the manner of Suspiria.

Does Portman has any ballet background...? Sorry if this a question previously made...

According to her bio in imdb, Is trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing" and "Still takes ballet classes."

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204/bio

Reliability of that? There is that nice English expression: Your mileage may vary...

It was reported a few days ago that Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassell have also been cast. Ryder is playing a dancer.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...415bc4fc270f23e

There was also an ad on Craigslist a few weeks ago that seems to indicate Benjamin Millepied is doing choreography for the movie.

I wonder if the reference to NYCB in the article is just an intuitive leap from "the world of New York ballet" or if City Ballet is actually associated with the film.

I love Ryder...Portman and keira knightley always seem to me as younger reflections of her...

cinnamonswirl, I have the impression that NYCB is associated in some way - perhaps it's the protagonist's home company?

But there's only so much ballet that you can work in to a film led by a cast of non-dancers.

So, all ballerina's are mentally unstable, back stabbing shrews who go both ways?

I knew it!!!!

There is a wonderful opportunity here, so hopefully it will not be missed.

..mmm...I'm starting feeling interested...

Backstabbing ballerina stories go at least as far back as The Turning Point.

I haven’t seen any suggestions that there’s a male love interest, so I don’t think we know if the ladies are in fact playing for both teams.