Felicity Jones in Talks to Play the Notorious R.B.G. in Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biopic ‘On the Basis of Sex’

Felicity Jones, hot off her success as a new member of the Star Wars family last winter, has been lining up a string of new projects recently. She’ll be starring as the swan protagonist of Luca Guadagnino’s Swan Lake, and today brought the news that she’ll be portraying Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the R.B.G. biopic On the Basis of Sex.

Deadline reports that Jones will be replacing Natalie Portman, who seemed to be set for the role three months ago. Mimi Leder will direct the biopic, which will focus on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fight for equal rights during her career.

Ginsburg was only the second female justice in American history when she was appointed to the Supreme Court by Bill Clinton in 1993. She made a name for herself as a fierce advocate of women’s rights during her career, and continued her work when she was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Leder described the movie when we spoke to her three months ago.

It’s the true story of the early years of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and it focuses on Ruth in 1970 taking, and winning against all odds, the first two cases that declared discrimination on the basis of sex unconstitutional.

On the Basis of Sex is set to start filming in Montreal this September.