Natalie Portman pulls out of new movie in Sydney days prior to filming

Natalie Portman has quit her upcoming movie in Sydney days before filming, citing “unforeseen personal reasons”.

Natalie Portman pulled the plug and abandoned her next movie just days before it was due to start filming due to “unforeseen personal reasons”.

The Oscar-winning actress, who has been based in Sydney since late last year, was signed on to produce and star in Days of Abandonment, which was to begin shooting at Fox Studios last week.

HBO said in a statement the production would now not be going ahead.

“Due to unforeseen personal reasons, Natalie Portman has stepped down from HBO Films’ ‘Days of Abandonment’ prior to the start of filming. Unfortunately, the production will not move forward,” HBO said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“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.”

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Natalie Portman has pulled the plug on Days of Abandonment. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFP

The movie had been in pre-production since April and received a $3.4 million grant from the federal government, which has since been withdrawn.

Days of Abandonment was based on a 2002 novel of the same name, following a woman named Tess (Portman) who abandoned her own dreams for a stable home life and is in turn abandoned by her husband.

Portman, 40, has been in Australia with her family since September while shooting the next Marvel film, Thor: Love and Thunder, with co-stars Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt and Matt Damon.

The Israeli-US actress has regularly been spotted enjoying the laid-back lifestyle including at Bondi Beach, the Blue Mountains, a pub in Sydney and was also seen in Russell Crowe’s box at a South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League match in March.

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Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied at the Blue Mountains.

While it was reported Portman was planning to buy a house in Sydney with her husband Benjamin Millepied, it is thought her withdrawal from Days of Abandonment may see her relocate back to the US.

Originally published as Natalie Portman pulls out of new movie in Sydney days prior to filming