UPDATE - A new photo of Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in V for Vendetta is in this week's Entertainment Weekly.
In the article, director James McTeigue talks about dealing with fans' reaction to Portman's bald hairdo, James Purefoy abandoning the lead role and London being bombed while he’s making a film about bombing London: "Hey, it's all part of the job description," McTeigue told EW. "I’ve been around films long enough to know that this is how it was going to be."
The article describes the plot as: "Centering on a mild-mannered young woman (Portman) who combats a futuristic totalitarian regime alongside the aforementioned terrorist (named V), the move rings familiar: Like the Matrix (also by the Wachowski Brothers), it's a sci fi action flick in which deep questions about things like government and freedom abound."
Reportedly, Purefoy had trouble acting behind the V mask; a job his replacement adapted to: "In a way, he was in a guinea pig position," says Weaving. Some scenes had to be quickly reshot.
McTeigue says he never considered toning down the violence in the film after the July 7 London bombings because in a way they made the movie's theme more relevant.
As for Portman's bald head: "She instantly looked amazing," McTeigue says. "She just looked like it suited her." Portman laughed: "Well, at least it will distract from the terrorism issue, right?"
Original article follows:
A shot of Natalie Portman from the upcoming V for Vendetta has hit the Web.
It shows her character with long hair before her fascist tormentors shave it off.
The Wachowski Brothers' adaptation of Alan Moore's maxi-series tells the story of a charismatic anti-hero stirring up revolt against totalitarian rule in the U.K.
The film debuts Nov. 4 in the U.S.
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