I’m dying for Darren Aronofsky to do something mainstream. While I have high hopes for RoboCop, it’s pretty exciting to see him developing something original as well. Some good news hit the Hollywood Reporter last night as they broke the news that Aronofsky’s long-gestured Black Swan could soon be taking flight – thanks to Natalie Portman. Read on for the skinny.
After being set up in early 2007 at Universal, the project — a supernatural thriller set in the world of New York City ballet — has been reconstituted after being put into turnaround by the studio. It has been making the rounds to studios and specialty divisions, several of which are keenly interested.

Among the elements giving it a boost: Natalie Portman is attached to play the lead.

Several other changes have occurred since the Aronofsky-helmed project was first developed by Universal.

Mark Heyman, a development exec at Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures, has done a rewrite of John McLaughlin’s original script for the pic, which Mike Medavoy’s Phoenix Pictures and Protozoa are producing.

Aronofsky, meanwhile, has gone on to helm the critical and commercial favorite “The Wrestler,” putting him in high demand.

“Swan” centers on a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. But it’s unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions.

Those who’ve read the script say it’s a spine-tingler with elements of “The Others,” the Nicole Kidman breakout in which viewers are left to discern what’s real and what’s imagined.

If a sale happens imminently, “Swan” could begin shooting as early as this year. Aronofsky has not committed to a movie that’s ready to go, though he has been developing the “Robocop” reboot at MGM.