Natalie Portman ‘to stay in Sydney’ to shoot a new big budget movie

She’s not going anywhere! Natalie Portman will stay in Sydney to shoot a new big budget movie after wrapping filming on Thor: Love and Thunder

She recently wrapped up filming Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Byron Bay legend Chris Hemsworth

But it looks like Natalie Portman won’t be jetting back to the US anytime soon, as according to The Daily Telegraph the actress will begin shooting a brand new big budget movie in Sydney on Thursday.

The 40-year-old, who jetted Down Under with her husband Benjamin Millepied and their two children last September, will play the starring role in HBO’s production of Days Of Abandonment.

Here to stay! It looks like Natalie Portman won’t be jetting back to the US anytime soon, as according to The Daily Telegraph the actress will begin shooting a brand new big budget movie in Sydney on Thursday

The drama is based on the critically acclaimed 2002 Italian novel of the same name penned by author Elena Ferrante. 

The movie’s executive producers Maggie Betts, Celine Rattray, Sophie Mas and Len Amato said they are ‘appreciative’ to have the opportunity to film in Australia alongside ‘talented people who live and work in the country.’

‘Everyone has been so welcoming and we look forward to a successful production,’ the team said.

Meanwhile, New South Wales’ Special Minister of State Don Harwin added that there is ‘no better place’ than Australia to film the movie. 

Complete: Natalie recently wrapped filming on Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Byron Bay legend Chris Hemsworth

Complete: Natalie recently wrapped filming on Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Byron Bay legend Chris Hemsworth 

‘NSW is the creative heart of Australia, employing 56 per cent of the people in our screen industry and there is no better place for production of this feature film,’ he said.  

Natalie will play Tess (Olga in the original Italian version of the book), who is a stay-at-home-mom suddenly grappling with her identity when she is abandoned by her husband.

In July, Natalie sparked rumours she was staying Down Under longer than expected after Luxe Listings real estate agent Gabin Rubinstein told Woman’s Day that he recently showed her a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Permanent move? In July, Natalie sparked rumours she was staying Down Under longer than expected after Luxe Listings real estate agent Gabin Rubinstein told Woman's Day that he recently showed her a home in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Pictured in the Blue Mountains with husband Benjamin Millepied

Permanent move? In July, Natalie sparked rumours she was staying Down Under longer than expected after Luxe Listings real estate agent Gabin Rubinstein told Woman’s Day that he recently showed her a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Pictured in the Blue Mountains with husband Benjamin Millepied  

‘From what I understand she was looking to buy a proper house. The sort of house she was looking at I wouldn’t call is a base home, but maybe she would,’ he told the magazine.

While Gavin would not disclose the price of the property, he described it as ‘beautiful’ and by all means ‘not cheap’.

He added that the Hollywood star was down to earth and lovely during the private viewing.

‘She was just lovely,’ he cooed. ‘To a lot of people it’s Natalie Portman, to me it is a potential deal and I treat them all the same.’

What a woman: 'She was just lovely,' Gavin cooed. 'To a lot of people it's Natalie Portman, to me it is a potential deal and I treat them all the same'

What a woman: ‘She was just lovely,’ Gavin cooed. ‘To a lot of people it’s Natalie Portman, to me it is a potential deal and I treat them all the same’

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