Overview

• Speaking to Vogue, Darren Aronofsky said he attempted to pit Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis against each other to mirror their on‑screen rivalry, a tactic the actors quickly recognized.
• Portman and Kunis recounted defusing the effort by comparing notes and praising each other’s work, describing the episode as a shared joke rather than a real conflict.
• Mila Kunis said her preparation involved dancing up to 12 hours a day with very limited eating and recalled significant bruising from repeated lifts during dance shoots.
• Portman said she recommended Kunis for the role after learning of her ballet background, and both reflected on the project’s lasting impact.
• The 15th‑anniversary IMAX remaster screens Aug. 21 and 24, renewing attention to the film’s $329 million box office legacy, Portman’s Best Actress Oscar, and online criticism of the director’s admitted tactic.