Here’s another buzzy package for the Cannes market, which sees Tom Hooper return to direct something for the first time since the 2019 debacle “Cats.”
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Deadline reports that Hooper will direct Natalie Portman in “Photograph 51,” a biopic about the brilliant British DNA scientist Rosalind Franklin. Anna Ziegler adapts her play of the same title for the movie’s screenplay, about how Franklin was the first to discover DNA’s double-helix structure despite not being recognized in her lifetime for her work. Now a scientific icon, “Photograph 51” retells Franklin’s story as the “dark lady of DNA,” someone who did groundbreaking work while overshadowed by rivals until her death at age 37.
FilmNation produces the pic, and will launch international sales for “Photograph 51” at the Cannes market, co-repping its domestic rights with CAA Media Finance. Ben Cosgrove leads producers via Leviathan Productions with Mandy Greenfield of Red Yes Studios, as the pair developed the project. Hooper also produces the film. It’s Hooper’s second time working with FilmNantion, the other being “The King’s Speech,” which won him Best Director and the film Best Picture, among others.
“We’re incredibly excited to be reuniting with Tom Hooper, whose ability to bring emotionally rich, historically significant stories to life is unmatched,” said Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation Entertainment. “Pairing Tom’s vision with Natalie Portman’s remarkable talent will make this a theatrical event for audiences across the world, offering both entertainment and profound meaning.”
As for Portman, she adds “Photograph 51” to a near-empty queue of upcoming projects. She stars in Guy Ritchie‘s “Fountain Of Youth” next at Apple, and then Cathy Yan‘s “The Gallerist,” which should hit theaters next year. Other recent work for Portman includes the Apple TV+ series “Lady In The Lake” and “May December.”
Expect “Photograph 51” to have an awards season campaign in late 2026.
