Saturday May 10, 8:25 AM
Natalie Portman exits "Wuthering Heights"
LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - Director John Maybury's
upcoming adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" is facing a casting
crisis after Natalie Portman pulled out of one of the main
roles.
Finance and sales company HanWay Films hopes to have a
replacement for Portman in the role of Cathy "within days."
But the American actress' exit is no small matter for
HanWay and the film's producers, especially because it arose
just days before the Cannes film festival, during which the
movie is to be sold to international distributors.
Local press reports here put the smart money on a British
replacement for Portman. For his part, Maybury ("Love Is the
Devil," "The Jacket") is of the opinion that the famous English
role should go to someone from these shores.
Written by Olivia Hetreed, who also undertook the
adaptation of "Girl With a Pearl Earring," the new adaptation
plans to steer away from "the stuffy costume drama" format.
Emily Bronte's novel details the intense love story between
the rich Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling brought
from the slums of Liverpool.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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