Some very exciting news tonight. According to Variety, Natalie will soon be starring in a stoner comedy written by Danny McBride and directed by David Gordon Green (I suppose that finally explains her meeting with him, while putting a few more nails in the Suspiria rumors coffin).

Natalie Portman will star with Danny McBride and James Franco in “Your Highness,” a Universal Pictures comedy that begins production in July in Ireland. David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express”) is directing.

Scott Stuber is producing through his U-based banner.

McBride, who wrote the script with Ben Best, plays an arrogant lazy prince who with his brother (Franco) must complete a quest to save the kingdom and his brother’s fiance. Portman will play a warrior princess that the lazy prince falls in love with.

Portman is currently starring with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rainn Wilson in the Spencer Susser-directed “Hesher,” which marks Portman’s feature debut as a producer under her banner, Handsomecharlie Films.

She will next be seen in the Jim Sheridan-directed “Brothers,” with Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal, which is due out in December. Portman just wrapped the Don Roos-directed “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.”

McBride and Best are exec producers and costars on the raunchy HBO comedy “Eastbound and Down” and they also co-wrote the 2006 feature “The Foot Fist Way” with helmer Jody Hill.

This news definitely seems legit, with reports coming from reputable Variety and Entertainment Weekly. There are a few more write-ups at HitFix.com, JoBlo.com, and ScreenCrave.com. Thoughts? I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl.

UPDATE – Dazza here. Make sure you check out that last link, as it has an interview with Mcbride about the film and Natalie’s casting.