Several years in the making, the biopic of the former First Lady, Jackie, has finally entered production in Paris. The movie is based on the experiences of Jackie Kennedy shortly after the death of her husband President John F. Kennedy. Four days after his assassination, in fact. It’s that time of grief and struggle that’s so perfectly captured in the first image taken from the shoot.
Natalie Portman stars as the titular Kennedy, who found herself widowed at the tender age of 34 with children to raise and a public to address. In the image (see above), there’s no doubt that Portman is making every move to ensure she fully encapsulates this beloved figure. From the pearls, the red dress, and the torn expression of angst, the parallels are truly eerie between the actor and the inspiration.
As for the rest of the talent attached, Pablo Larrain, who carries an Oscar nomination, directs the pic after original helmer Darren Aronofsky chose to take a producer role instead. Interestingly, Noah Oppenheim penned the script. His two previous credits include The Divergent Series: Allegiant and The Maze Runner, which makes Jackie a serious departure from his typical milieu. However, the biopic has been in circulation for upwards of three years now, so perhaps he changed tack after development slowed on Jackie?
Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig and John Hurt co-star in Jackie, which is currently scheduled for release sometime in 2017.
