Mimi Cave will direct Pumping Black, a psychological thriller set in pro cycling, from a script by Haley Hope Bartels. Jonathan Bailey plays 35-year-old rider Taylor Mace opposite Natalie Portman as doctor Andrea Lathe, with production slated to start in the fall and the looming Tour de France central to the plot. The film has been compared to Whiplash and Black Swan.

Pro cycling gets the psychological-thriller treatment, with Mimi Cave steering a tense tale of ambition, secrecy, and survival on two wheels. Jonathan Bailey slips into the lycra of Taylor Mace, a 35-year-old rider watching his clock run out, while Natalie Portman plays Andrea Lathe, a doctor whose drive matches his desperation. As the Tour de France looms, the choices turn darker, the stakes sharper. Think pedal-to-the-floor intensity in the vein of Whiplash and Black Swan, with cameras set to roll this fall.

A gripping thriller takes shape

Some projects announce themselves with a jolt. This is the case for Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman, set to lead a psychological thriller titled Pumping Black. The film enters the high-pressure world of pro cycling, where glory and ruin often ride together. Directed by Mimi Cave from a script by Haley Hope Bartels, the tone reportedly echoes the intensity of Black Swan and Whiplash.

The cast: familiar faces, high talent

Bailey, widely recognized as Anthony Bridgerton on Netflix, steps into the role of Taylor Mace, a 35-year-old rider staring down the limits of his body and the edge of his career. Portman plays Andrea Lathe, a driven doctor whose counsel, and ambitions, become central to Taylor’s fate. Their pairing suggests sparks of tension and rare precision.

EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan Bailey is teaming up with Natalie Portman for the psychological thriller “Pumping Black”from “Fresh” director Mimi Cave.

The film follows a cyclist prepping for the Tour de France who is taken under the wing of a doctor driven by her own thirst for victory…

— Variety (@Variety) May 8, 2026

Inside the dark world of cycling

Set amid team buses, roadside barriers, and ruthless training blocks, Pumping Black follows Taylor as he fights to keep a secret while staying competitive at the sport’s highest level. Andrea’s guidance complicates that fight, pushing him toward choices that test ethics and endurance. The Tour de France looms in the narrative, raising the stakes with every stage and every second gained or lost.

Looking ahead: production begins soon

Filming is slated to begin this fall, with a US release date to be announced. Producer Stacey Sher has praised the script’s grip and psychological bite, which tracks with early comparisons to Whiplash and Black Swan. For now, the promise is clear: a finely tuned duel of wills, crafted by Mimi Cave and brought to life by Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey.