Boy, this came out of nowhere. We had last heard that Lynne Ramsay would follow We Need to Talk About Kevin with a loose, sci-fi rendition of Moby Dick — this isn’t the place for a debate over its potential merits, however — but news of a whole different game has arrived from THR. And, despite the fact that I really would’ve liked to see what some space Melville could bring, I’m not going to issue a complaint if this outing comes first.

Right now, we’re informed that she’s recruited Natalie Portman for Jane Got a Gun, a Brian Duffield-scripted western that found itself on the Black List at the end of 2011. No bigwigs have been lured in just yet, but various financiers and Hollywood studios have, unsurprisingly, been giving the project their attention.

Here’s how Jane was summarized a few months back:

“After her outlaw husband returns home barely alive with eight bullet wounds, Jane reluctantly reaches out to an ex-lover whom she hasn’t seen in over 10 years to help her defend her farm when the time comes that her husband’s gang eventually tracks him down to finish the job.”

Not only do we have a classic western set-up, but it also brings plenty of opportunities for us to see Portman wield (and, most importantly, use) a six-shooter. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Add Ramsay‘s acclaimed formalism to the mix, some stark western environments, along with a sharp script that treats the genre with respect, and I bet we’ll have something pretty special on the docket.

What do you think of Jane Got a Gun? Is it a good choice for Portman and Ramsay?