What kind of fictitious couple would Natalie Portman and Brad Pitt make? She seems… dare I say… too young for the 45-year-old actor. She’s 27 years old (she turns 28 in June), but looks and acts younger to me. Anyway, Brad and Natalie will be playing lovers in the just-announced film Artifacts, based on the Leanne Shapton book Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry. Both Natalie and Brad will produce as well as star. Variety has more:
Paramount Pictures has attached Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman to star in a film based on the new Leanne Shapton book “Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry.” The book was just published by Farrar Straus & Giroux.
Paramount won an auction for the book rights Tuesday night, with Pitt’s Plan B producing with Portman’s Handsomecharlie Films banner. Portman brought the book to Pitt, whose company is Par-based.
The book takes the form of Sotheby’s-like estate auction catalog, with 325 entries and photographs depicting items that reveal the private moments and the rise and fall of a four-year relationship between the fictitious couple Hal Morris (a 40ish photographer) and Lenore Doolan, (a New York Times food columnist in her late 20s).
The project will be developed as a romantic comedy, with Pitt to play Morris, and Portman to play Doolan.
Shapton, an illustrator and art director of the NYT’s Op-Ed page, uses items that range from clothes to notes, e-mails and heirlooms to convey the excitement, the hopes and dreams, and ultimately the heartache of a love affair that runs its course.
CAA brokered the deal.
Pitt, who’ll next be seen starring in the Quentin Tarantino-directed “Inglourious Basterds” and the Terence Malick-directed “The Tree of Life,” is expected to next star in the Steven Soderbergh-directed “Moneyball.” It’s the latest high-profile lit buy for his Plan B, which has James Gray writing to direct an adaptation of the just-published David Grann book “The Lost City of Z.” Earlier this week, Par acquired the John Le Carre novel “The Night Manager” for Pitt to produce.
Portman will next be seen in the Jim Sheridan-directed drama “Brothers.”
[From Variety]
If the book was just published, and Paramount just won the rights, there’s a good chance the screenplay adaptation won’t be ready for months, maybe even a year. Reading a description of it, I’d say that it will be a difficult translation into film. But still, I bet the book is an interesting read.
I’m really wondering about the potential chemistry between Natalie and Brad. I realize I just said it, but she just seems so young and girlish. Next to her, Brad will look so much older. Like when Catherine Zeta-Jones first hooked up with Michael Douglas. That kind of “Oh my God, he’s dating his daughter!” nonsense. I wish Brad would stick to female co-stars in their 30s and 40s. Maybe he could do another film with Cate Blanchett!
Here’s Natalie taking her dog Charlie in Los Feliz, California on March 8th. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.
How long til US weeekly’s “Angelina catches Brad in bed with Natalie!” headline?
And whats this nonsense of female actors over 30 muchless 40? You know those don’t exist in Hollywood.
now hes old. when an actor leading lady is half his age.
I bet AJ will be on set for all the love scenes. IMHO — Natalie Portman is MUCH prettier than AJ.
Hollywood will never tire of pairing ingenues with older men. This is particularly lame, however, because as Kaiser said, Portman seems much younger than her years. She seems more like a teenager than a 20-something. Guess we’ll see if chemistry will win over credibility.
am i the only one who actually read the article up there……..the characters are the same ages as the actors, Pitt will be playing a man his own age and Portman will be playing a much younger woman, in her 20’s……geez!
Natalie looks 15
by the way Natalie sobs , crys in basically ALL her movies
Doesn’t matter. It’s still weird and kind of creepy whether it’s from a book or a script.
I don’t know…. Natalie Portman seems way too smart to allow herself to be placed in any kind of compromising situation with him. She’s got so much going for her than to get tangled up in some kind of creepy Brangelina triangle.
She’d be more likely to babysit, I’d hope.
Everyone’s getting all in a tizzy about it, but the premise of the book itself is 40something + 20something. Therefore, they both fit the appropriate bills.
As for Portman seeming young, I find myself disagreeing, she’s always struck me as very well-spoken, educated (harvard no less!) and very mature. I don’t hear about her getting shitfaced drunk ala Tara Reid style.
Don’t know about the chemistry, but we’ll see.
What is it … 3-5% films touted in production ever make it to the screen?
Sounds like a dull story with an even dull-er leading man.
I love Natalie! She’s not a husband/boyfriend stealer, so Angelina has nothing to worry about.
And I love Cate B. even more, but they had ZERO chemistry in The Curious Case of BB. Cate is too cerebral for Brad Pitt. I’m sure she found him nice, but a tool.
From the plot synopsis, this story is begging to become a Wes Andersen film… which would likely mean a cameo from Billy Murray and perhaps at least one Wilson brother… *has to stop self from queuing for the cinema ticket already* 😆
I think Natalie is fantastic and will be great. I’m thinking it might not be a bad pairing. Brad is getting better; he came dangerously close to acting in Benjamin Button 😈
*edit* and couldn’t you just see Anjelica Huston (*worship worship*) as a `Sotheby’s-like auctioneer?
Ok, so Brad’s going to have to get over his fixation of falling in love with all his co-stars…
Not such a huge age difference, they would be acting after all. Many a successful on-screen couple have had a significant age difference, or at least appeared so. Bogey & Bacall, Bond & the majority of his femme fatels & most notably Audrey Hepburn & Cary Grant to name a few. Though it pains me to even mention some the greats in the same context as Pitt.
love natalie portman.
Is it just me or does it seem like Brad actually looks his age now or older since he’s become domesticated? Maybe he’s not as vain now as he was when he was with Jennifer Aniston. Or maybe he doesn’t have as much personal time to be working on the beauty regimen.
Couldn’t agree more with the comment about the lack of chemistry between Pitt and Cate B in Benjamin B. It was one of my few complaints about the movie. I think it had more to do with his lack of emoting in his scenes with her. He’d look at her and ….nothing in his eyes…blank. And I’m a huge fan.
he is so not hot. wonder if she’ll be grossed out.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE her! Brad Pitt’s okay I guess, but I just think she’s great. She is so classy. Never any drama or scandal. Love her.
Angelina should definitely be sweatin it. Nat is gorgeous and super smart and no ego. Brad will be captivated no doubt! UH OH Angie!
Oh please, in the name of all that is holy, let them get together. They would make a STUNNING couple and frankly I would be huge fan of the both of them.
I’m already brainstorming nicknames.
Oh please 28 and 45 is not such a huge age difference. What’s wrong with you people? Natalie is 28 NOT 8, she also is Harvard graduate which probably means she is a lot more mature and ineligent than any 38 year old women!
@Mairead: Talk about a wet dream – The cast you describe with Wes Anderson at the helm could easily become my favorite movie!
Also I think Portman has enough range to play a mature woman. She does often get “cute” roles because of her looks and her ability to be quirky but I thought she was phenomenal in Closer paired with Jude Law and Clive Owen (my love!).
I would die laughing if these two became an item — publicly. And so would Maniston.
(The Brangeloonies, however, would throw themselves in front of a bus.)
She’ll act him off the screen.
I doubt Brad is Natalie’s type, besides he is way to old for her and she is to smart for him.
Saurensarmy: exactly excactly EXACTLY my thoughts. ditto.
she’s a younger prettier angie
this could be interesting
i say bring it
could be hot
anything is better than brad + julia roberts = yuck
eww, i stopped thinking brad was sexy once he hooked up with angelina and started having all those kids. he just doesn’t do it for me anymore. pffft. could care less if he waves his schlong around on screen for the full 2 hours. 😛
I like her but I love Brad. I don’t give a rats ass about the people who love to say that he is not hot. HE FOR DAMN SURE IS. He looks wonderful for any age. Better then some of the men 10-15 years younger. And why is he still hot. The fact that as soon as this news hit this site some of you dropped everything to make a post. So yeah he is still hot and relevant. I for one find him more sexy because he is a devoted father. He is a MAN now. women will understand what that means. Little girls still want the eye candy.
And they wonder why boys leave them. I have the answer.. They are not yet men.
I dont AJ is orried one little bit about Brad and Nat.
people want to make it that way, but they are happy and have a nice family and I dont think Pitt is going to toss that away..period.
She is classy, smart and beautiful.
He used to be “pretty” and he has lost that, and aged reallt fast in the past few years.
I think she is a very mature and lovely woman. She never “acted” like a young starlet.
However, just like with Cate B.- there is too much of a “brains” difference between them.
@EternalCanada: “pffft. could care less if he waves his schlong around on screen for the full 2 hours.”
Ha! 🙂 that made me shnarf… you know, he might have to wave his schlong around judging by the reception so far to this movie + BP.
I could watch Natalie Portman in anything, she’s excellent.
Remember her in The Professional ? Now THAT is an age difference and the relationship (at least in that crazy world) was pulled off beautifully. Get him (Jean Reno?)in the movie with her and Angelica Houston. That’d be awesome.
Yes, I get that the actors are the same ages as the characters. And yes, it’s still creepy and disgusting in real life, in books, in films. It reminds me of that movie with Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. ALLLLLL Wrong. Too gross. Not going.
EW! he’s old enough to be her father!
OH! did he hand pick her for this, like he hand picked Jolie for MAMS? If yes, Jolie better watch out especially since Natalie’s younger, hotter, and smarter.
On the other hand Natalie has a lot of class, so I’m sure she wouldn’t hit on him or she’d turn him down if he tried.
Guess Jolie will be able to relax, her little dumb dumb won’t be going anywhere… but we all know if Natalie pulled out all the stops the way Jolie did, Brad would be all in it, though I’m sure he’d cover it up better for his kids’ sake.
The Professional is one of my all time fave movies. Such a good film and she was utterly brilliant in it.
Natalie Portman may act her age but she certainly doesn’t look it. This pairing seems…off. I don’t know why, but they seem like they’d have weird chemistry.
Anyway. someone up there mentioned how she was adult-like in Closer. There is a line in the film that perfectly encompasses my thoughts. Clive Owen speaking to Julia Roberts: “You’re a woman, she’s a girl”.
Poor Natalie will always look like a girl because she’s so tiny and has that lovely youthful face. She’s lucky; she looks like she’ll age well and be able to play much younger parts for a long time.
i hope they get together and many smart (from natalie’s genes) and pretty (from nat and brad) kids.
No DD, Natalie has a production company and wanted to do this movie, took it to Brad, they are both repped by CAA, and Brad’s Plan B gets films greeenlit. It will be a joint production. Brad needs to work as it’s rumored that they are adopting again and Angie has said she will not work for a year or so after she completes SALT her first film in 15 months. Brad also has a coproduction deal for a movie with Julia Roberts. Brad is going nowhere away from those kids of theirs.
Brad already has 6 kids that he is mega attached to. Really.
Brad made movies with a number of female costars that he never got involved with, like JuliaR, RoseB, DianeK, HelenBC, ClareF, JuliaO, for example. And like someone already said Brad is mega attached to his kids and their mother Angelina.
Sorry Brad is used goods now- too many kids and can you imagine having Angie as an ex
Really, Sassy? You hope to have the home of 6 children destroyed by divorce so their father can go procreate with a woman you like better than his current partner?
Wow. ‘Cause, you know, I personally think that would suck.
As to the Brad and Natalie pairing…I think it demonstrates what Hollywood women have been saying for years. Women over 35 are has-beens, but older men still get roles opposite women half their age.
In this particular film, from what I understand, the age difference is part of the story…but even if it weren’t, this pairing would not surprise me. Women “of a certain age” are rarely cast as sexual beings anymore. They certainly aren’t cast opposite good-looking, younger men…or even men their own age. They become relegated to the “older aunt” or “older friend” or “quirky neighbor” or “sage widowed advice giver” or some other somesuch asexual archetype whose usefulness is limited to what she learned before her life was over and she reached this advanced elderly state.
It’s sick.
sorry…not divorce. He hasn’t bothered to marry her…but the point is still the same.
Natalie Portman loves to play roles that emphasize how ‘young’ she is, in contrast with other characters in the film. That way, she can garner much ‘pseudo-outrage’ attention that detracts from her lack of acting skills.
Notice already that (accomplished actor) Brad Pitt is getting slammed for his ‘age’ and people are already talking about how ‘young and girlish’ incompetent Portman looks.
She needs and relies on those contrasts.
Cheers,
Lori Price
She will be atleast 3 classes up from Angelina. Brad just doesn’t do it anymore. I guess he somehow lost it after the way he treated his ex wife.
geez… its creepy actually, him being so old and her looking 12…….
ermmm isn’t her ex was a hairy artsy musician?? anyways even saying that , I personally think Brad is everybodys type, just whether they’ll admit to it or not……
However, I doubt Nat is his type…she sure is pretty but she lacks the vava va voom and a certain ‘look of love’ that angie has.
It does seem like an odd pairing. But it sounds like a movie I would see anyway.
I think there is too big an age difference between these two. It just will be weird. nd, I seriously doubt Brad would leave Angelina Jolie for her. He’s tied down now with family now. He’s already been a pig once IMO by leaving J.A. for A.J. No way is he going to risk his already damaged rep by getting with Natalie. As beautiful as Natalie is in the face, Angelina’s body(although not perfect) is better proportioned. Natalie is just too short, I doubt she’s even 5’1.
AJ won’t be worried. If those two ever break up, it will be because she left him.
You know… he sort of just looks his age with his current partner, but in this movie, with this pairing, he’s going to look like an old man. Just the two faces together in the header makes him look 50 compared to her.
Brad’s Port? Bratalie?, PitPort? hhaahah I could go on… I know I know… Please don’t!
I agree, Mamafogle, Brad has aged a lot in the past few years. Maybe, as you say, he doesn’t have as much time to work on the beauty regimen. He has said he’s sleep-deprived because of the kids, and it shows.
I think it’s also because he’s dyed his hair and eyebrows dark. He looked much better with lighter hair and eyebrows, because they brought out his blue eye color and made his complexion glow. He’s wearing black like Angie, but the color is too severe for his skin tones.
The scruffy gray beard isn’t helping either.
Actually, I have read that Brad did have an affair with Claire Forlani while filing that movie (can’t remember the name). And Gwyneth was cheating too – both causing the demise of their relationship.
Okay, I am laughing out loud at the post saying that Angelina has a better body that Natalie Portman! Angelina’s body is her worst feature. She is way too skinny. When she gains weight it’s all in her midsection, which is why she stays so skinny. SHe has one of the worst bodies in Hollywood! Aside from overweight people, of course. For goodness sakes Lisa Rinna has a better body than Angelina!! Her face is her sole redeeming quality.
Dang this got alot of responses.
Did nobody here see Closer? Natalie acted her @ss off in that movie. Played a stripper who falls for a man (Jude Law) that falls (very hard) for someone else (Julia Roberts) who ends up with someone she doesn’t really love (Clive Owen).
Brad loves Angie. Contrary to lies being told, Brad did not cheat with Angie. He is a good man with a family that he loves. Give him a break. He is never going to anything to jeopardize his family. Oh by the way, Natalie and Angelina are friends……
LOL, I really don’t think Angelina Jolie has too much to worry about in terms of competition in the looks department from Natalie (short with linebacker legs) Portman.
Sorry, but it’s absurd.
L.P.
I love Cate B., too and Natalie Portman.
Brangeloonies…LOL.
He sure is getting alot of movie roles, and have alot of projects in the works. Tom Cruise must be jealous.
Brad Pitt is one tired looking, tired out individual since he took on with Angie and six kids inside of just over three years. There’s no way the man has a sane moment to keep up with himself let alone six kids all requiring and needing different levels of attention, etc.. The same holds true for Angie. She looks as old as Brad and doesn’t look very happy at all. It’s in their eyes. The eyes are the mirrors to the soul. You’re right when you said Brad wouldn’t leave Angie if he wanted too…image is everything. He’s given up alot professionally to leave Jennifer for her. His career couldn’t stand it. It can barely handle it now. Contarty to what his fans think, Brad couldn’t act his sway out of a wet paper bag. I think he’s trying to get in all the acting roles that he can because he’s heading down the roads of has beens, quickly. Two alledged A-Listers at the Oscars 2009, not one of the two received an oscar between them…Need I type more? It’s their money that buys each of them into the roles they take on, not their acting abilities. I won’t spend my money on used dvds that feature either one of them. It has always been about how pretty they are, ’cause it’s not their acting that’s gotten them this far.
I think there is a lot more going on “behind the scenes” with Brad and Angelina than we know. I know I am probably going to get blasted by certain Brangie lovers, but has anyone seen that site ianundercover? It’s an undercover journalist that has an source of info. inside the Brangelina camp. There are some very interesting articles on there! I heard about it on the E! site from some commenters.
I doubt Angelina is really worried about Natalie either – I think they probably have an open relationship.
TEST POST
Madelyn ^^, take your jealous hater asss back to fantasyville…LOLOL.
‘Open relationship?’ BAHAHA!! Yeah – because that would of course be soooo easy to get away with, being the most famous photographed and celebrated romantic duo on the planet for the last 4 years.
Not to mention the intense love, and PDA they can’t help but show – along with their adoring words of praise, and stated lifelong committment to each other and their children.
There are some sick obsessed women out there. Get a life. They’re actors, and movies starring other attractive film stars (are there any other kind?) is kinda their job – HELLO?? Also, they don’t phase them in the least.
So keep hope alive Angelina haters (or Brad haters) – but remember, it still doesn’t change the fact that Jen Aniston, is an ugly no-talent, middle aged TV sit-com hack who Brad dumped irrespective of Angelina Jolie. If anyone is uptight about Brad and beautiful co-stars STILL, it’s probably Aniston’s stalker asss, as she clearly is still obsessed with Brad Pitt and whatever he does.
Lastly, Angelina Jolie when she was almost 30, Portman’s age (a couple of years ago) – had an Oscar, 3 golden globes, and 2 SAG awards – she is also considered ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in the World’ and was voted the Sexiest Film Star of ALL TIME (2nd ONLY to Marilyn).
Jolie is also one of the most admired and influential humanitarians in the world sandwiched between Bono and Oprah (In fact, Natalie is on record as saying she admires her and is a friend) – so I’d settle down, and plan on reserving all that excitement for when the movie releases 2 years from now, that way your hard earned $ can go DIRECTLY into the Jolie Pitt family coffers, and they can laugh all the way to the bank at your jealous bitter obsessed assses – smootching and squeezing booties the entire time.
Angie will probably be pregnant again to boot. LMAO
Oh and this SHOULD read:
“Lastly, Angelina Jolie when she was almost 30, Portman’s age (a couple of years ago) – she was a Mom, a pilot, a UN Global Humanitarian Award Recepient, had an Oscar, 3 golden globes, and 2 SAG awards – she is also considered ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in the World’ and was voted the Sexiest Film Star of ALL TIME (2nd ONLY to Marilyn)….what does Natalie have?”
EXACTLY.
What does Natalie have that Angelina does not? Class, brains and education, for starters.
So Jeannie, why do you feel the need to tear down Natalie, while you are building up Angelina?
what is this movie about? a dad who fuck his daughter of his best friend? Nathalie Portman looks too young or teen to be the Pitt lover in a movie! remember Robin hood movie with Crowe:sienna miller was fired because she’s too young (or thin or party girl ) for Russel Crowe!
You know what Jeannie, there is no reason to attack me! Nothing in my post said that I hated Brad or Angelina. This is a GOSSIP SITE. So that is what we do here, engage in tidbits of gossip.
Now if anyone has anything intelligent to say in a non-belligerent manner, that would be greatly appreciated. It is widely known that many, many Hollywood couples have open relationships. I made no judgment as to whether that is bad or good. Heck, I know regular people who have open relationships!
Famous people live a different life than we do. They go away for months at a time and film with other actors. It is easy to see how they might have open relationships.
Go, Madelyn! I though Jeannie was completely out of line attacking you like that. I don’t feel it’s right to attack other posters in such a nasty way. Unnecessary and mean.
CB should take that down…maybe other sites leave that crap up – but they should take it down.
That’s not a good match-up. I can’t picture them together at all.
Thanks Z! You’re the best.
I like to come here for the witty back and forth and to read juicy gossip. People that attack other posters ruin a good gossip site, IMO. I really enjoy reading 95% of the posts here….the others…not so much.
You bet, Madelyn!! It really gets me upset when people attack other posters…and for no reason, usually – except most of the time they are loonies.
It’s suppose to be fun – not nasty!
And about the loonies, they always call other people haters, which I completely don’t understand, because they are the ones, always, saying the most hateful things.
I think natalie is to good of a person to breakup someones relationship besides i dont think he is her type