Natalie Portman is a very, very busy woman. She’s so busy that she can’t even think about starring in a big screen adaptation of Wuthering Heights. However, she did think of it and we reported it just last month. That was then, though, and this is now.

According to Variety, Portman will not be playing Cathy in the famous Emily Bronte story. Her publicist blames a “scheduling conflict.” I’m putting that in quotes because, while I don’t have any proof, I’m 87% sure it’s not true. The “scheduling conflict” is with some unnamed project and who knows if it actually exists or if Portman couldn’t get whatever creative or monetary concessions she wanted. Or, maybe it is true, who knows.

With Portman out, the project needs to replace her with some sort of box office draw. Michael Fassbender is being considered for Heathcliff. I’m sure he’s a fine actor, but he’s not exactly going to put butts in the seats on his name alone. Perhaps Gwyneth Paltrow can dust off her English accent and give it a try.