Everything to Know About Natalie Portman's New Show, 'Lady in the Lake'
The highly anticipated drama thriller miniseries, featuring Natalie Portman in both starring and executive producing roles, is slated for release on Apple TV+ in 2024.
It's time to grab your popcorn and call up your cinephile buddies. The iconic Black Swan star, Natalie Portman, is gearing up for yet another role hot on the heels of her Golden Globe-nominated performance in May December last year. This time, she's making a leap from the big screen to the small screen with Apple TV+'s television adaptation of Laura Lippman's 2019 novel Lady in the Lake. The drama thriller miniseries will bear the same title. Although it will be Portman's first appearance in a television series, she endorsed the concept in an exclusive interview with L'OFFICIEL: "The format of telling a story in a series format allows for such intricacy of character and so much more space to develop a story," she said.
Directed and written by Alma Har'el, Lady in the Lake boasts a stellar production team including Portman herself, alongside Har'el, Boaz Yakin, and Christopher Leggett, among others.
But before you get excited, L'OFFICIEL will give you the rundown of everything you need to know about Portman's latest work.
What's the plot?
Set in the 1960s, Lady in the Lake delves into the tumultous intersection of journalism, racism, misogyny, and crime. The miniseries centers around Portman's character, Maddie Schwartz, an investigative journalist who forsakes her comfortable life to pursue a career in reporting. The actor was drawn to the role because her "grandmother was from Baltimore and about the same age as Maddie during that time period." Soon enough she was caught up in an acting marathon that was "extremely demanding and extremely emotional." It's safe to say we can expect a theatrical tour de force from her in Lady in the Lake.
Over the course of the series, Maddie immerses herself in the vibrant yet fraught landscape of Baltimore, she becomes entangled in the pursuit of justice for two haunting murders. Amidst her quest for truth, she finds herself at odds with a woman dedicated to alleviating the struggles of Baltimore's black community, ultimately sparking tensions and revealing deeper societal divides.
Inspired by real-life events, author Laura Lippman weaves a gripping narrative that draws from the echoes of two unsolved murders, igniting a powerful exploration of race, privilege, and the relentless pursuit of justice in a turbulent era.
Who's in the cast?
In March 2021, Natalie Portman and Black Panther star Lupita Nyong'o were cast as the main characters of Lady in the Lake. However, in 2022, Nyong'o dropped out of the miniseries and was later replaced by Moses Ingram, who is known for her role as Jolene in The Queen's Gambit. According to Variety, Lady in the Lake was the second television role Nyong'o had exited since 2020, when she also dropped out of HBO Max's Americanah due to "scheduling issues caused by the pandemic."
Additionally, in 2022, actors Mikey Madison, Y'Lan Noel, Sean Ringgold, Noah Jupe, Brett Gelman, Byron Bowers, and Mike Epps were added to the cast.
Red Carpet Screening
Portman, who performs a starring role in the production was seen at the red-carpet screening in a hot pink Oscar de la Renta dress with a botanical pattern. This was an interesting departure from the usual Dior that she wears as a brand ambassador for the French fashion house, but there's no doubt that the experiment was a success as the pastel minidress from the fall 2024 collection turned heads at the event. Additionally, co-star Moses Ingram wore a metallic silver gown and director Alma Har'el wore a casual cream jacket with a cartoon print over a simple white t-shirt, pants, and boots.
When's the release date?
Fans can anticipate Lady in the Lake premiering on Apple TV+ July 19th, so make sure to have some popcorn on hand (and maybe tissues too). The first two episodes will be released on the same date, followed by a new one each week. Stay tuned with L'OFFICIEL for further announcements, teasers, and updates on one of this year's hottest television shows. For now, check out some of Apple TV+'s 2024 releases, from Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, to Presumed Innocent, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
