Natalie Portman goes for Oscar and horror with 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'

Natalie Portman at the New York premiere of "Brothers."

Credit: AP Photo/Pete Kramer

You can't say Natalie Portman doesn't have a sense of humor.

The "Brothers" star recently finished shooting the James Franco/Danny McBride comedy "Your Highness" and now she's committed to continuing period era comedy in a new flick for Lionsgate.  Variety reports Portman will star in and produce what one can only assume is a comedy, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

Based on Seth Grahame-Smith's update of the Jane Austen classic, the movie will find Portman as the ever independent Elizabeth Bennet who is distracted by the arrogant, but handsome Mr. Darcy while attempting to kill a legion of killer zombies.  (Seriously, this is not an early April Fool's Day joke.)

There is no director or screenwriter set for the project yet, but Portman's producing partner Annette Savitch told the trade, "Natalie and I are longtime passionate fans of Jane Austen's books and this a fresh, fun and thought-provoking way to approach her work. The idea of zombies running rampant in 19th Century England may sound odd, but it lends a modern sense of urgency to a well known love story."

Portman will begin production on the contemporary superhero flick "Thor" for Marvel Studios this January. She's also agreed to star in Darren Aranofsky's dramatic thriller "Black Swan" later in 2010.