VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Natalie Portman walks the red carpet ahead of the ‘Vox Lux’ screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 4, 2018 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

Natalie Portman has been living in Sydney, Australia with her family for almost a year now, filming the next Marvel film, Thor: Love and Thunder, with co-stars Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt and Matt Damon, as well as director Taika Waititi. But despite the actress reportedly looking to buy a property in the city due to ongoing commitments Down Under, she’s just had to pull out of one of her main new projects days before filming was due to start. 

Portman was signed on to produce and star in HBO’s Days of Abandonment, which was set to begin shooting at Fox Studios last week. The television movie was based on the novel by Elena Ferrante and Portman was set to play the lead role of Tess, a woman who abandons her dreams for a domestic home life until eventually, her husband leaves her.

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 09 2020: Natalie Portman arrives at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. PHOTOGRAPH BY P. Lehman / Barcroft Media- PHOTOGRAPH BY P. Lehman / Barcroft Media (Photo credit should read P. Lehman/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

This week, however, the Oscar-winner pulled out at the last minute, citing “unforeseen personal reasons”.  HBO announced the news in a statement, adding production would now not be going ahead.

“Due to unforeseen personal reasons, Natalie Portman has stepped down from HBO Films’ ‘Days of Abandonment’ prior to the start of filming. Unfortunately, the production will not move forward,” HBO said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We are very sorry we won’t be able to bring this beautiful story to the screen with our talented writer/director and cast. We send our sincere thanks to our cast, producers, and crew for all their passion and hard work.”

It’s rumoured Portman and her family may return home to the US soon, now that her work commitments are off. Furthermore, Sydney is in an extended lockdown, while restrictions in Portman’s home country have eased.

Since another Covid-19 outbreak in the city, Portman has been spotted taking socially distanced walks with Isla Fisher and spending time outside with her husband and children.