Ridley Scott Directing Movie About Getty Kidnapping, With Natalie Portman Circling To Star

Ridley Scott is busy finishing up his latest Alien movie, Covenant, and while he’s promised there’s another trip into world of xenomorphs coming in the future, he’s planning something rather different before he completes his Alien prequel trilogy. Variety reports he’s set to direct a movie about the real-life kidnapping of the grandson of billionaire John Paul Getty, with Natalie Portman possibly starring.

The film will be about, ‘the 1973 kidnap in Italy of J. Paul Getty III — the rebellious teenage grandson of oil billionaire J. Paul Getty, who was reluctant to pay the $17 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers… The kidnappers sent a lock of hair and the teen’s severed right ear to the family to convince them pay the ransom. Harris and the boy’s father eventually convinced the elder Getty to pay a $2.9 million ransom, resulting in the teenager being freed after six months. He had been chained to a stake in a cave in Italy.’

Natalie Portman is circling the role of John Paul Getty III’s mother, Gail Harris, a role Angelina Jolie was recently offered, but turned down due to scheduling issues. Scott is planning to start shooting almost immediately after he’s completed publicity duties on Alien:Covenant, with filming set to begin in Italy in late May.