Jennifer Jason Leigh, Natalie Portman to star in sci-fi movie ‘Annihilation’

Jennifer Jason Leigh is reportedly in talks to join Annihilation, a sci-fi movie that already includes Natalie Portman.

Annihilation will be Alex Garland’s follow-up to the Oscar-nominated Ex Machina. The cast also includes Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez. Leigh is currently in early talks to join the film, reports TheWrap.

The movie is based on James VanderMeer’s novel about a group of four women who go on a mission where traditional laws of nature are not applicable. Each woman is a scientist, lead by a biologist who is the narrator.

Scott Rudin is producing the film. Leigh previously co-produced Greenberg with Rudin and starred in Margot at the Wedding, which Rudin also co-produced.

Leigh has been active in Hollywood since the 1980s, but she finally got her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. She also lent her voice to Charlie Kaufman’s acclaimed Anomalisa. She is currently working on Rob Reiner’s LBJ, in which she will play Lady Bird Johnson opposite Woody Harrelson.