Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman to Star in Thriller ‘Pumping Black’ for Anton (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety

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From 'Fresh' director Mimi Cave and launching in Cannes, the film is set in the cutthroat world of competitive cycling.

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Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman to Star in Thriller ‘Pumping Black’ for Anton (EXCLUSIVE)

Hollywood’s latest leading man Jonathan Bailey has booked a new film.

Fresh from being crowned 2025’s box office king thanks to “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” the actor is now teaming up with Oscar winner Natalie Portman (“May December,” “Black Swan”) for “Pumping Black,” a psychological thriller set in the competitive and cutthroat world of professional cycling.

Anton will launch international sales at Cannes with CAA co-repping the U.S.

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The feature will be directed by Mimi Cave, best known for directing 2022 horror “Fresh,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan, and 2025 comedy-mystery film “Holland,” starring Nicole Kidman. Cave will direct from a screenplay by Haley Hope Bartels.

“Pumping Black” follows cyclist Taylor Mace, who at 35-years-old is finding himself aging out of the sport. He is taken under the wing of Andrea Lathe, a doctor driven by her own thirst for victory and power. As the race to the Tour de France progresses, Taylor must take increasingly dark measures to protect his secret. According to the description, it’s an “adrenaline fuelled, dangerous thriller” likened to both “Whiplash” and “Black Swan.”

The film is being produced by Stacey Sher at Shiny Penny (“The Hateful Eight,” “Heretic”), Cave, Anton's Sébastien Raybaud (“Victorian Psycho”) and Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas from MountainA (“May December,” “Arco”). Anton is fully financing, with production scheduled for the fall.

"Haley's script immediately pulled us into a visceral, psychological world that feels both thrilling and completely original,” said Sher. “I'm excited to partner with Natalie and MountainA on this bold project, and to work with Jonathan whose talent makes him a perfect fit for the role. I can’t wait to collaborate with Anton and bring Mimi Cave’s incredible vision to life.”

After breaking out in Netflix hit “Bridgerton,” Bailey has reached blockbuster audiences thanks to the “Wicked” franchise and “Jurassic World Rebirth.” The combined box office of “Rebirth” ($869 million globally) and “Wicked: For Good” ($540 million) meant he became 2025’s highest-grossing actor.

Portman, meanwhile, won an Oscar for “Black Swan,” while she’s renowned for other acclaimed roles including “Jackie,” “V for Vendetta,” plus franchises including “Star Wars” and “Thor.” On television, she starred in and executive produced Apple TV’s “Lady in the Lake.” Other upcoming films for her MountainA banner include “The Gallerist” by Cathy Yan, and “Good Sex” by Lena Dunham.

Super-producer Sher has been involved in more than two dozen major features amassing nearly $2.7 billion at the box office, and is known for her collaborations with Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained,” “The Hateful Eight”) and Steven Soderbergh (“Erin Brockovich,” “Out of Sight” and “Contagion”), plus films including “Garden State,” “Reality Bites,” “Get Shorty,” “Man on the Moon.” “Gattaca” and “Respect.” She is currently producing the Amazon/MGM erotic thriller “Verity,” directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett.

Anton’s Cannes market slate includes “My Darling California,” the all-star crime thriller with a cast including Jessica Chastain, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, Mikey Madison, Charles Melton and Don Cheadle, and “In Love,” a modern love story starring George Clooney and Annette Bening. It recently announced the alien invasion thriller “Soon You Will Be Gone and Possibly Eaten” starring Sophie Wilde and Dave Franco, “Doctor Caligari's Cabinet of Wonders” starring Michael Shannon and “Starman,” an emotional odyssey starring Brendan Fraser.