In what has to be a Hollywood first, director Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) surprisingly dropped out of the Western Jane Got a Gun by simply not showing up for work on the first day of production yesterday. The film's producers, including star Natalie Portman and Scott Steindorff are currently scrambling to find a replacement. Here's what Scott Steindorff had to say in a statement.

"I have millions of dollars invested, we're ready to shoot, we have a great script, crew and cast. I'm shocked and so disappointed someone would do this to 150 crew members who devoted so much time, energy, commitment and loyalty to a project, and then have the director not show up. It is insane somebody would do this to other people. I feel more for the crew and their families, but we are keeping the show going on, directors are flying in, and a replacement is imminent."

The producer also added that he has retained lawyer Marty Singer to explore legal ramifications of her actions.

"She was pay or play, and Marty Singer has been retained. My focus is on making this movie, but I will protect all my rights. This comes down to an irresponsible act by one person."

Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Jude Law, and Rodrigo Santoro star in this Western, written by Brian Duffield, about a wife (Natalie Portman) whose husband returns home, barely alive after being shot eight times. She seeks the help of an ex-lover to defend her home when the gang of outlaws who shot her husband comes to finish what they started

Instead of shooting as planned on the Santa Fe, New Mexico set yesterday, the cast and crew spent the day rehearsing. The producers plan on keeping the film afloat until a new director can be found.