Actress' little neck will be on the line for historical drama

Natalie Portman and Eric Bana are heading to court -- the court of King Henry VIII, that is.

The actors are in final negotiations to star in the big-screen adaptation of Philippa Gregory's historical novel "The Other Boleyn Girl," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Justin Chadwick-helmed feature centers on the sibling rivalry among Boleyn sisters Mary and Anne (Portman) and their brother George in the court of King Henry VIII (Bana). Mary, who has been the king's mistress, must make way for her conniving sister, who not only becomes his lover, but also sets her sights on displacing Katherine of Aragon as queen. But even when she achieves her goal, Anne's troubles are just beginning. Time after time she fails to provide the king with an heir, and enemy factions are moving in to remove her from the throne.

Production on the film, based on the screenplay by Peter Morgan ("The Last King of Scotland"), is scheduled to begin shooting in late September in Europe.

Portman earned an Oscar nomination for her role in "Closer." She was last seen in "V for Vendetta" and "Star Wars: Episode III," and has a trio of films coming up, including "Free Zone," "Goya's Ghosts" and "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. She's also signed on to appear in Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai's English-language debut "My Blueberry Nights."

Bana most recently played an Israeli assassin in "Munich." He next stars alongside Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall in Curtis Hanson's "Lucky You," scheduled for a fall release.