Jenna Ortega and Natalie Portman in talks for the dark comedy film The Gallerist

Oscar winner Natalie Portman and Wednesday Star Jenna Ortega is in talks to star in her first collaboration on the upcoming dark comedy The gallery owner. The project led by Cathy Yan (Birds of prey) promises a unique mix of humor and intrigue as it follows an art dealer who finds himself in a desperate situation and tries to pass off a dead man as a work of art at Art Basel Miami, an international art fair in Miami Beach.

Now, deadline reports that Portman and Ortega are currently negotiating for a role in Yan's. The gallery owner. In addition to directing, Yan also co-wrote the screenplay with James Pedersen. Portman will also be on board as a producer, collaborating with Sophie Mas via her MountainA banner. Additional producers include Jonathan King, Ash Sarohia, Tom McCarthy, Rae Baron and Zola Elgart Glassman.

What you can expect from the gallery owner

Anticipating the film's eccentric humor and characters

Yan is known for her work as director of the DCEU Birds of preyShe became the first Asian woman to direct an American superhero film. Her feature film debut, Dead pig, The book, which has a 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating, was inspired by an incident in 2013 when thousands of dead pigs were found floating on the Huangpu River. She was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2022 for her work directing an episode of HBO's third season Consequence.

Yan will bring a biting vision to this offbeat, evocative tale Weekend at Bernie's. The potential star power of Portman and Ortega paid more attention to the film's developmentwhat was supposed to be the first collaboration between the powerhouse actors. This unconventional premise, combined with the actors' talent for jaded characters, sets the stage for a compelling exploration of ambition and morality that combines macabre humor with the high-stakes world of the art scene.

Portman recently completed filming on the upcoming adventure film Fountain of youth. Her acclaimed appearance in the 2023 black comedy May December, as an actress preparing for her role as a controversial woman who gained fame through her relationship with a younger man has thoroughly prepared Portman to take on Yan's exciting saga. Meanwhile, Ortega's career is in full swing following her award-winning Netflix series Wednesday and the box office success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Ortega is also no stranger to a dark story or a sardonic character and fits well into Yan's production of death and misfortune.

Our take on Portman and Ortega's collaboration in The Gallerist

The gallery owner could become a must

The collaboration between Portman and Ortega in The gallery owner promises a unique blend of experienced talent and youthful zeal. Combining Portman's experience with Ortega's growing popularity and Yan's penchant for edgy storytelling, The gallery owner has the potential to become a must-watch in the dark comedy genre. We hope that both contracts come to fruition so that this collaboration can come to fruition and show audiences what each woman is capable of.

Source: Deadline