Danish actor Caspar Phillipson will star opposite Natalie Portman’s former First Lady as John F. Kennedy in upcoming political drama, Jackie.
Though a prominent figure in modern American history, Phillipson’s casting as JFK doesn’t necessarily open up much screentime for the actor, given that Pablo Larrain’s feature will place Portman’s grieving Jacqueline (Jackie) Kennedy into the limelight soon after her husband’s assassination in Texas in 1963. Our guess? Jackie will incorporate Phillipson’s fallen president via some form of flashback sequences, as Portman’s reminisces about happier days spent walking Washington’s corridors of power.
Filming is still ongoing on the set of Jackie, and recent, sombre photos have showcased the actress donning the black veil for what we assume to be her late husband’s funeral circa November 22, 1963. It’s that trying period following JFK’s death that will serve as the basis for the movie, lending Portman plenty of dramatic material to sink her teeth into.
Noah Oppenheim (The Divergent Series: Allegiant, The Maze Runner) is the scribe guiding Larrain’s Oscar-friendly feature to the big screen, and the duo will be presiding over a enviable cast that includes Greta Gerwig, Peter Sarsgaard, Max Casella, Beth Grant, and John Hurt. Once linked with the director’s chair himself, Darren Aronofsky will reunite with his Black Swan star to produce the drama, with support from Protozoa Pictures partners Scott Franklin and Ari Handel.
Having entered production late last year, expect Natalie Portman to step into the high heels of the former First Lady in early 2017. But will Jackie emerge as an early frontrunner going into awards season?
