Jennifer Jason Leigh to join Natalie Portman in “Annihilation” sci-fi

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fresh off her first Oscar nomination for “The Hateful Eight”, Jennifer Jason Leigh is in early talks to join Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson in Alex Garland‘s “Annihilation”, TheWrap reports citing multiple individuals familiar with the Paramount project.

Paramount had no comment, while representatives for the actress did not respond to requests for comment.

Scott Rudin is producing the adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s novel, which follows a group of women who take on a dangerous mission where the laws of nature don’t apply.

The group consists of an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist who serves as the group’s de facto leader, and a biologist, who serves as the narrator.

There’s no deal in place yet for Leigh, though she does have the offer and appears eager to join the all-female ensemble after working with an all-male ensemble on “The Hateful Eight.”

Leigh is no stranger to working with Rudin, as the two of them produced “Greenberg” together. Rudin also produced “Margot at the Wedding,” in which Leigh starred opposite Nicole Kidman.

The actress is in the midst of a career renaissance thanks to her acclaimed voice work in Charlie Kaufman‘s Paramount release “Anomalisa” and her bloody-good turn as Daisy Domergue in Quentin Tarantino‘s “The Hateful Eight.” She next stars alongside Bella Thorne in “Amityville: The Awakening,” and she’s also playing Lady Bird Johnson opposite Woody Harrelson in Rob Reiner‘s political drama “LBJ.”

Meanwhile, British novelist and filmmaker Garland is coming off the success of “Ex Machina.”

Leigh is also gearing up to shoot David Lynch‘s new “Twin Peaks” series.