Mimi Cave burst onto the movie scene in 2022 with her feature debut, “Fresh,” a darkly delicious showcase for stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan that took Sundance by storm that year. From the sound of things, her third film, which Variety reports will be at the Cannes market, will be in a similar vein.
Cave will team up with Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey for “Pumping Black,” an “adrenaline fuelled, dangerous thriller” set in the world of professional bicycle racing. Think “Whiplash” meets “Black Swan,” but centered around the Tour de France. No wonder Cave cast Portman in one of the leading roles.
Here’s an official synopsis of the film, via Variety:
“Pumping Black” follows cyclist Taylor Mace, who at 35-years-old is finding himself aging out of the sport. He is taken under the wing of Andrea Lathe, a doctor driven by her own thirst for victory and power. As the race to the Tour de France progresses, Taylor must take increasingly dark measures to protect his secret.
Cave will direct a script by Haley Hope Bartels for “Pumping Black.” Producers on the film include Stacey Sher via Shiny Penny, Sébastien Raybaud via Anton, and Portman and Sophie Mas via MountainA. Anton finances the picture, and will handle it’s international sales at the Cannes market; CAA co-reps its stateside.
“Haley’s script immediately pulled us into a visceral, psychological world that feels both thrilling and completely original,” said producer Sher in a press statement. “I’m excited to partner with Natalie and MountainA on this bold project, and to work with Jonathan whose talent makes him a perfect fit for the role. I can’t wait to collaborate with Anton and bring Mimi Cave’s incredible vision to life.”
“Pumping Black” is a big get for British actor Bailey, who’s riding the career swell that started with “Bridgerton,” and rose higher thanks to the “Wicked” movies and “Jurassic Park: Rebirth,” to higher stardom. Believe it or not, Bailey was 2025’s highest-grossing actor thanks to “Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” so he’s quite the casting for Cave’s third feature.
Of course, Portman is no slouch in comparison: she won a Best Actress Oscar for “Black Swan,” with several other critically-acclaimed roles recently, including “Jackie,” “Vox Lux,” “May Decemer,” “Annihilation,” and more. Note that the four films mentioned in the last sentence are all auteurist to some degree. Portman’s filmography shows she may perform high (Terrence Malick movies) or low (the “Thor” films), but her sweet spot is working with directors with a distinct vision. One expects Cave has one for “Pumping Black.”
But then, Cave must hope her next picture fares better than her previous one, “Holland,” starring Nicole Kidman. The mystery-dark comedy hit Prime Video last year to little critical fanfare; given Bailey’s recent success at the box office, it’s safe to expect the studio that picks up “Pumping Black” at Cannes will give it a theatrical release.
“Pumping Black” is just one of several projects Anton has at the Cannes market, too. There’s also “My Darling California,” “In Love,” “Soon You Will Be Gone And Possibly Eaten,” “Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet Of Wonders,” and “Starman.” All star-studded cast sheets for those, but they deserve write-ups of their own.
Stay tuned for more details on “Pumping Black” as they arrive. Shooting on the film starts this Fall.
