Russell Crowe to shoot Poker Face movie in hometown of Sydney

Russell Crowe is making the best of being back home in Sydney with the actor set to film a new psychological thriller in his hometown after his recent role in Thor.

For the first time since he shot the touching WWI drama The Water Diviner back in 2014, Russell Crowe is preparing to shoot a feature-length film in his hometown of Sydney.

Confidential can reveal the Oscar winner is preparing to star in the lead of the psychological thriller Poker Face, which is to begin shooting in both the Harbour City and parts of the east coast next month.

Produced by Arclight films and directed by Gary Fleder (best known for Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead) the film will have Crowe take on the role of tech billionaire “Jake”, who gathers his friends at his mansion for a high-stakes poker game only for the evening to unravel when masked intruders crash the party.

Russell Crowe shaves off his “Zeus” beard. Picture: Twitter

It’s understood that while the film will be shot in Sydney, on-screen it will be set in Miami in
the US.

And local film industry buzz is rife that Natalie Portman, who is currently starring opposite Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney, will also star alongside Crowe in the upcoming thriller.

Coincidentally, Crowe and Portman were recently sighted getting friendly at a South Sydney match back on March 27.

The following day it was revealed Crowe would appear in a top-secret cameo, playing Zeus, in the next Thor instalment, solving the riddle behind the bushy beard he had been nurturing for several weeks.

Crowe took to Twitter last week to show the beard had since been razored off, having wrapped his small role in the Marvel blockbuster.

Portman, meanwhile, was sighted last week shopping for real estate in the Southern Highlands, suggesting the Black Swan star and her family are settling in for a
long-term Australia secondment.