Natalie Portman, Thandie Newton And Nicholas Hoult Board The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan

Xavier Dolan’s ensemble cast for The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan gets more impressive by the minute. Up until now, the 26-year-old director has pulled together the likes of Kit Harington, Jessica Chastain, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Michael Gambon, Bella Thorne, Chris Zylka, True Detective star Taylor Kitsch and Emily Hampshire, and today that lineup has made room for three more.

Word comes by way of Deadline, revealing that Natalie Portman, Thandie Newton and Nicholas Hoult have all inked a deal to feature in Dolan’s English-language debut. Taking up the mantle of the title role is Game of Thrones alum Harington, as The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan orbits around one Hollywood star who finds his career hanging by a thread amid accusations of his correspondence with an 11-year-old actor.

Unfolding in the early 2000s, Dolan’s feature will then jump to to an interview with the child actor in question in the modern day, who reflects on his relationship and those allegations levelled against his former idol. Fanning the flames of Donovan’s personal crisis is Jessica Chastain’s no-nonsense reporter, though there’s no details regarding how Portman, Thandie Newton and/or Nicholas Hoult fit into the story.

Before production swings into motion on The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan, Xavier Dolan is putting the final touches to his 2016 drama It’s Only The End Of The World. Adapted from a play of the same name, it’ll feature Spectre actress Léa Seydoux, Marion Cotillard and Vincent Cassel.