Darren Aronofsky, director of the 2000 hit Requiem for a Dream, is back with his next project, Black Swan.
Black Swan is a supernatural thriller that follows dancers within the New York City Ballet. In particular, the film centers on Nina, a veteran of the stage who must fight to keep her place in the spotlight for a production of Swan Lake. Nina’s biggest rival is a dancer named Lilly, but here’s the kicker: Nina isn’t sure if Lilly is real, a delusion, or a supernatural apparition.
Casting details have been released, and Aronofsky has himself a cast that’s sure to deliver. Natalie Portman will be starring as Nina, with Mila Kunis playing the part of Lilly. Joining them on stage will be Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey.
Ryder will be playing the role of Beth, a dancer coming to the end of her career, whose place in the company Nina and Lilly are competing for. Cassel will be the director of Swan Lake, and Hershey will take on the role of Nina’s mother.
The script for Black Swan was originally written by John McLaughlin, but the final product was rewritten by Mark Heyman, who co-produced Aronofsky’s The Wrestler.
Black Swan is set to start filming in a couple of weeks, with Fox Searchlight likely taking on distribution rights.
