Academy Award-winning actor Natalie Portman is set to play British scientist Rosalind Franklin in Photograph 51, a new biographical drama directed by Tom Hooper.
The film tells the true story of Franklin, whose groundbreaking research was instrumental in unveiling the double-helix structure of DNA. Despite her pivotal contribution, Franklin’s work was overshadowed by her male contemporaries—James Watson and Francis Crick—who received the Nobel Prize, while Franklin was never credited.
Hooper, best known for directing The King's Speech, can be expected to add finesse to this historical drama. Photograph 51 positions Franklin as a "wronged heroine", raising questions about scientific recognition and the ethics surrounding the Nobel Prize.
The story also delves into Franklin’s professional relationships, highlighting her colleagues and rivals through her point of view, up until her untimely death at the age of 37.
Photograph 51 will be produced by Ben Cosgrove of Leviathan Productions and Mandy Greenfield of Red Yes Studio, alongside FilmNation Entertainment and Hooper. FilmNation and Hooper previously collaborated on The King's Speech.