Ridley Scott To Direct 'All The Money In The World,' Natalie Portman Eyed To Star

Earlier today, I called Ridley Scott a “movie manufacturer” given his recent preference for all things franchise, but to be fair, every now and then he goes and makes “The Counselor” or “Exodus: Gods And Kings.” And if everything works out, he’s got another non-branded movie in the pipeline.

Deadline reports that Scott is lining up to direct the thriller “All The Money In The World.” Penned by David Scarpa (“The Last Castle,” “The Day The Earth Stood Still“), the 2015 Black List script tells the true story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, the heir to the Getty oil fortune, and his mother’s desperate attempt to get the cash for the ransom from the boy’s stubborn grandfather. If this sounds really familiar, that’s because it’s also part of the plot of Danny Boyle‘s brewing FX series “Trust,” which will take a more expansive look at the Getty empire, tracing them through the decades.

That might be part of the reason the project is moving crazy fast, with production aiming to star in May. Natalie Portman is being eyed to play the mother, and is apparently likely to take the role, while the part of the grandfather needs another A-lister to step in. Scott reportedly met with the suddenly un-retired Jack Nicholson, but he’s apparently not going to do it. Should this all come together, it’s not wild to suggest it could be done in time for this year’s awards season. The director works crazy fast, and if Steven Spielberg can have The Post” ready in time for the end of the year, no reason why Scott can’t be there too.