Natalie Portman has made some risky and bold choices in her career, choosing subjects that are unconventional and not mainstream. Films like V for Vendetta, Black Swan, Jackie, Vox Lux, and Lucy in The Sky were some awesome unconventional films that showed Portman’s incredible versatility as an actress.
Another underrated sci-fi film that she starred in was 2018’s Annihilation. The film showed a group of scientists exploring a zone called The Shimmer in which plants and animals undergo unexplained mutations. The film had a great and unique concept, and therefore creators of a sci-fi show on Max had to find ways to avoid excessive comparison and similarity to the film.
Creators of Scavengers Reign Wanted Their Show To Be A Unique One
Scavengers Reign started off as a short film way back in 2016. Max wanted to make it into a long-form episodic story told in 12 episodes. The creators and directors of the show sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the series and the various live-action influences they inserted in the series.
When The Hollywood Reporter asked about the influence of the Natalie Portman starrer Annihilation on the show, the creators said that while they loved the film, the show and the film had overlapping narrative tropes of being a sci-fi story, Hence, they had to find creative ways to change course and differentiate itself and make it a unique narrative. They said,
“Annihilation came out while we were working on the pilot, so it was already in motion for the episode that screened [at New York Comic Con]. We all saw it together. We loved that movie. I was like, ‘Oh, this is brilliant. This is amazing.’ And then I was like, “What are we doing?
But I think that also opened up for us when we were doing the series, that you almost want to go hard in the other direction for narrative inspiration. Annihilation is close and similar and maybe has some overlap. But then it’s like, ‘Oh, let’s draw [something else]'”
The creators also mentioned how they used the elements of grief and loss from Manchester by the Sea as a major inspiration for the characters and the show. They also listed other films that influenced the narrative of the show including The Last of the Mohicans, 28 Days Later, Jurassic Park, and Sorcerer.
Natalie Portman is Open to Returning as Mighty Thor
Natalie Portman debuted as Mighty Thor in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder. It was a great upgrade for Portman’s character Jane Foster, and she also dealt with a personal illness that contributed to the narrative of the film. It was a nice detour from what she had done before in the MCU and she proved to be a badass in the film.
By the end of the film, she succumbed to her sickness and passed away. She is greeted by Heimdall in Valhalla and this could provide many exciting opportunities for the character to explore in the future. Portman told The LA Times that she is open to returning to the role. She said,
“I am open to anything. It’s such a cool character and I feel like anything is possible.”
It remains to be seen if and how the MCU brings back the character in the future of the MCU. It’s hard to believe that the studio would bring Portman back simply for one film only. She is sure to have a future in the universe and only time will tell how the studio uses her character going forward.
Also read: “Because it’s a huge commitment”: The Star Wars Secret Natalie Portman Doesn’t Want You To Know
