Rafe Spall Joins Natalie Portman & Mary-Louise Parker In HBO Films’ ‘The Days Of Abandonment’

Rafe Spall, who has starred in Apple TV+’s Trying and The Big Short, is to star in HBO Films’ The Days Of Abandonment alongside Natalie Portman and Mary-Louise Parker.

The television movie is based on Elena Ferrante’s novel and comes from writer-director Maggie Betts (Novitiate), Portman and her MountainA Films, Maven Screen Media, Len Amato’s Crash & Salvage and Fandango. Ferrante also serves as an executive producer.

More from Deadline

• Mary-Louise Parker Joins Natalie Portman In HBO Films' 'The Days Of Abandonment'

• 'The English': Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall Among Cast Joining Emily Blunt In BBC/Amazon Western Series

• Natalie Portman To Headline HBO Films' 'The Days Of Abandonment' Based On Elena Ferrante's Novel

Written and directed by Betts, The Days of Abandonment revolves around Tess, played by Portman. When Tess, a woman who abandoned her own dreams for a stable home life, is in turn abandoned by her husband Oliver, her world is thrown off its axis.

Spall plays Oliver, Tess’ husband of fifteen years, doting father of their young children, beloved college professor. Charming and attractive, Oliver is an ideal husband.

The Days of Abandonment is a journey into the mind of a woman in crisis that confronts the norms of motherhood and female identity as Tess traverses the darkest reaches of her own psyche.

Parker plays a mesmerizing but elusive woman Tess starts encountering everywhere she goes, causing Tess to question her sanity.

Betts executive produces with Portman and Sophie Mas via MountainA, along with Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler for Maven Screen Media, Len Amato for Crash & Salvage, Ferrante, Domenico Procacci for Fandango and Maria Zuckerman. HBO Films produces in association with Medusa.

Spall previously starred in series including Black Mirror and The Shadow Line and Men In Black: International as well as the BBC and Amazon’s upcoming Western The English.

He is represented by The B – Side and UTA.

Best of Deadline

• Broadway Returns: A Complete Roster Of Opening Dates, Venues And How To Buy Tickets

• Summer Premiere Dates For New & Returning TV Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

• U.S. Covid-19 Update: Nation Passes 600,000 Pandemic-Related Deaths On Tuesday

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.