Why Natalie Portman axed Sydney film Days of Abandonment

Natlie Portman has pulled the plug on Sydney film Days of Abandonment just a day before cameras were set to roll at Fox Studios.

Natalie Portman has pulled the plug on a new big budget flick that was to have started filming in Sydney last week.

The Hollywood A-lister is understood to have resigned from the project titled Days of Abandonment the day before cameras were set to roll at Fox Studios on July 26.

“Due to unforeseen personal reasons, Natalie Portman has stepped down from HBO Films’ Days of Abandonment prior to the start of filming,” a statement from HBO in the US read.

Natalie Portman at her front door in Sydney before production was to begin. Picture John Grainger

“Unfortunately, the production will not move forward. 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.”

Portman, 40, has been based in Sydney since September, having shot the new Marvel film, Thor: Love and Thunder, alongside Chris Hemsworth before turning her attention to Days of Abandonment.

It is unclear whether or not Portman will remain in Australia.

Portman, who was also executive producing the project, was to star alongside Rafe Spall and Mary-Louise Parker in the film, that is based on the book of the same name by Elena Ferrante.

The Federal Government had committed $3.4 million to the film as part of its location incentive program to bring international productions Down Under.

The cancellation clearly comes as a blow to the industry with Communication Minister Paul Fletcher last month saying he expected the production to generate more than $25 million for the local economy.

Natalie Portman at her Sydney rental last week. Picture: John Grainger

American film producer Sophie Mas at Vaucluse . Picture: John Grainger

It was predicted Days of Abandonment would directly create more than 200 jobs for cast and crew, 500 extras roles and use the services of an estimated 400 businesses across NSW.

“After the producer of Days of Abandonment applied for and received funding under the Location Incentive program, the producer has now cancelled filming of this production since star Natalie Portman pulled out,” a spokeswoman for Mr Fletcher said. “Accordingly, the Government funding has been withdrawn and will be allocated to other productions. There is a strong pipeline of projects seeking funding under the program and there will be more announcements coming soon.”

There are still a lot of international productions filming in NSW despite the ongoing stress of the coronavirus lockdown.

Nicole Kidman has been busy shooting US TV series Roar and Russell Crowe recently began production on his film, Poker Face.

More international productions are set to come to Australia over the coming months with the likes of Joe Exotic, Ticket To Paradise and Irreverent all taking advantage of the location incentive funding.