Deadline reported on a potential enticing project being put together by director Ridley Scott. The Martian helmer (whose Alien: Covenant looks frighten audiences this summer) appear to be quickly putting together a new docudrama centering on the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III. The film – entitled All the Money in the World – comes from a Black List-mentioned screenplay penned by David Scarpa and focuses squarely on Getty’s mother – Gail Harris – and her attempt to goad the young man’s grandfather to fit the bill for a lofty ransom. Scott reportedly is eyeing Oscar winner Natalie Portman for the role; Portman is coming off her critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated lead in last fall’s Jackie.

Reportedly, Scott’s first choice for the role of Harris was Oscar winner Angelina Jolie – the duo met last week – but that fell through due to scheduling conflicts. Portman, who appears in Terrence Malick’s Song to Song (which opens in limited release on March 17th), recently gave birth to her second child but appears a strong candidate to lead the film with production hoping to commence this May in Italy.The harrowing drama concerns the wealthy Getty family and the complicated relationship between Harris and J. Paul Getty, the revered magnate who thought little of his grandson and whose relations grew fraught with Harris following her divorce from her son. The film will be produced and financed by Imperative Entertainment with Sony committing to distribute the film.

Casting is still underway for the elder Getty. Reportedly, Scott recently met with Jack Nicholson to play the part but that’s hardly a sure thing. The veteran actor has been missing in action for some time now though he did recently agree to lead the American remake of the acclaimed German dramedy Toni Erdmann. For Scott, he will pursue All the Money in the World before diving into the drug war epic The Cartel, a rumored collaboration with Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio.

As for Portman, this project is among many in the works for the actress. She recently completed production on Alex Garland’s upcoming science fiction film Annihilation and co-stars is Xavier Dolan’s English-language debut The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.

Stay tuned.