NewKerala.com

Jonathan Bailey Joins Natalie Portman in Psychological Thriller 'Pumping Black'

Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman are set to star together in the upcoming film 'Pumping Black'. The psychological thriller is set in the competitive world of professional cycling. The film will be directed by Mimi Cave from a screenplay by Haley Hope Bartels. Bailey was recently crowned 2025's highest-grossing actor thanks to 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'Wicked: For Good'.

Key Points: Jonathan Bailey & Natalie Portman Star in 'Pumping Black'

  • Jonathan Bailey joins Natalie Portman in 'Pumping Black'
  • Film is a psychological thriller set in professional cycling
  • Directed by Mimi Cave
  • Bailey is 2025's highest-grossing actor
2 min read

Jonathan Bailey to share screen with Natalie Portman in 'Pumping Black'

Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman team up for 'Pumping Black', a psychological thriller set in the world of professional cycling. Directed by Mimi Cave.

"Haley's script immediately pulled us into a visceral, psychological world that feels both thrilling and completely original - Stacey Sher"

Los Angeles, May 8

Hollywood actor Jonathan Bailey is joining forces with the Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman for their upcoming film.

Fresh from being crowned 2025's box office king thanks to 'Jurassic World Rebirth' and 'Wicked: For Good', the actor will be seen sharing the screen with the actress in 'Pumping Black', reports 'Variety'.

The film is a psychological thriller set in the competitive and cutthroat world of professional cycling. 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.

As per 'Variety', '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, Cave, Anton's Sebastien Raybaud and Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas from MountainA. 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", Sher said. "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.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Mimi Cave directed 'Fresh' which was quite gripping. This sounds like it has that same dark, psychological tension but on the racing track. Really curious to see how they handle the cycling world – it's such a niche sport in India but universally fascinating.
V
Vikram M
"Whiplash meets Black Swan on wheels" – that's an intriguing pitch. Bailey has great range, and Portman's intensity is perfect for a power-hungry doctor role. Can't wait to see this fall. Only thing I hope is that the Indian release doesn't get delayed by weeks or months!
A
Ananya R
Honestly, Bailey's rise has been meteoric – from Bridgerton to Jurassic World to Wicked, and now this! The guy is clearly picking smart projects. Natalie Portman producing and starring? That's a power move. Hope the script lives up to the hype. 🤞
R
Rohit P
A psychological thriller about a cyclist aging out of the sport? That's a concept we don't see often. Very impressed that they're going for something original rather than another sequel or reboot. And Mimi Cave's Fresh was brilliant, so I have high hopes. Please just don't mess up the ending!
K
Kavya N
Wait, is the title 'Pumping Black'? That's an unusual name for a cycling film. Probably refers to something dark about the sport's underbelly. With Portman producing, I'm sure there's nuance here – she doesn't do shallow projects. This one could be a sleeper hit like Black Swan was.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50