Natalie Portman Cast As Jackie Kennedy In New Movie; 5 Other Actresses Who Have Played The Part Before [PHOTOS]

Just as Cannes is warming up, so are the casting and distribution announcements. The latest news out of the film confab is that Natalie Portman will take on the role of the 35th president’s stylish widow, Jackie Kennedy. The actress is currently at the international film festival to debut her first directorial feature on May 14, “A Tale of Love and Darkness.”

In “Jackie,” Portman will portray the grieving first lady in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy’s assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is set to be directed by Oscar nominee Pablo Larrain (“No”). Portman’s director in "Black Swan," Darren Aronofsky, will take a producing role on the Jackie Kennedy project. The movie is scheduled to begin production later this year.

The film biopic, which could generate Oscar buzz, has been in development hell for some time. Earlier in its development, the LA Times reported Steven Spielberg was set to produce the movie, but that was before he took on “Lincoln.” Aronofsky and his then-wife Rachel Weisz were attached to the Jackie Kennedy film in 2012, but the project fell through during their divorce.

In addition to “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” Natalie Portman will also appear in Terrence Malick’s highly anticipated “Knight of Cups” and the Western movie “Jane Got a Gun.” She also recently signed on to play Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the movie “On the Basis of Sex.” The “Thor” actress has yet to confirm if she will appear alongside Chris Hemsworth for the next chapter of their Marvel saga.

Flip through the photo gallery above to see some of the actresses who have brought Jackie Kennedy’s story to screens big and small.