Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman to Star in Thriller ‘Pumping Black’
From ‘Fresh’ director Mimi Cave and launching in Cannes, the film is set in the world of competitive cycling.

Fresh from being 2025’s box office star thanks to “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “Wicked: For Good,” Jnathan Bailey is teaming up with Oscar winner Natalie Portman (“May December,” “Black Swan”) for “Pumping Black,” a psychological thriller set in the competitive world of professional cycling.
Anton is fully financing, with production scheduled for the fall. It will launch international sales at Cannes with CAA co-repping the U.S.
“Pumping Black” follows cyclist Taylor Mace, who at 35 is 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. According to the description, it’s an “adrenaline fuelled, dangerous thriller” likened to both “Whiplash” and “Black Swan.”
The film is produced by Stacey Sher at Shiny Penny (“The Hateful Eight,” “Heretic”), Cave, Anton’s Sébastien Raybaud (“Victorian Psycho”) and Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas from MountainA (“May December,” “Arco”).
“Haley’s script immediately pulled us into a visceral, psychological world that feels both thrilling and completely original,” said Sher. “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.”
Portman, meanwhile, won an Oscar for “Black Swan,” while she’s renowned for other acclaimed roles including “Jackie,” “V for Vendetta,” plus franchises including “Star Wars” and “Thor.” On television, she starred in and executive produced Apple TV’s “Lady in the Lake.” Other upcoming films for her MountainA banner include “The Gallerist” by Cathy Yan, and “Good Sex” by Lena Dunham.
Super-producer Sher has been involved in more than two dozen major features amassing nearly $2.7 billion at the box office, and is known for her collaborations with Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction,” “Django Unchained,” “The Hateful Eight”) and Steven Soderbergh (“Erin Brockovich,” “Out of Sight” and “Contagion”), plus films including “Garden State,” “Reality Bites,” “Get Shorty,” “Man on the Moon.” “Gattaca” and “Respect.” She is currently producing the Amazon/MGM erotic thriller “Verity,” directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett.
Anton’s Cannes market slate includes “My Darling California,” the all-star crime thriller with a cast including Jessica Chastain, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, Mikey Madison, Charles Melton and Don Cheadle, and “In Love,” a modern love story starring George Clooney and Annette Bening. It recently announced the alien invasion thriller “Soon You Will Be Gone and Possibly Eaten” starring Sophie Wilde and Dave Franco, “Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders” starring Michael Shannon and “Starman,” an emotional odyssey starring Brendan Fraser.





