In March 2026, the United Kingdom will become the stage for a long-awaited cinematic retelling of one of science’s most debated stories. Natalie Portman is set to portray Rosalind Franklin in the upcoming biographical drama Photograph 51, directed by Tom Hooper and based on Anna Ziegler’s acclaimed play. The film aims to illuminate the life and legacy of Franklin, the British scientist whose pioneering work in x-ray crystallography captured the image that revealed the double-helix structure of DNA—an achievement that has been both celebrated and overshadowed.
The story of DNA’s discovery is as much about scientific brilliance as it is about the complexities of recognition and legacy. Back in early 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, working in Cambridge, announced their discovery of the double helix, a breakthrough that would transform biology forever. At the same time, across London at King’s College, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin were racing to solve the same puzzle. As Nautilus reports, Franklin was on the verge of leaving King’s and DNA research, while Wilkins was preparing to focus more intently on the problem after her departure.
For decades, a widely held belief persisted: Watson and Crick had stolen Franklin’s data, particularly her now-famous x-ray diffraction images, to make their discovery. This narrative, fueled largely by Watson’s own dramatic memoir The Double Helix, painted Franklin as the “wronged heroine” or the “dark lady of DNA”—a scientist whose critical contributions were appropriated without due credit. Yet, as recent scholarship and interviews with Crick reveal, the reality appears more nuanced.
According to Nautilus, Watson and Crick’s breakthrough was not, in fact, the result of clandestinely obtained data. In January 1953, Franklin herself suggested that Crick speak to a colleague who had an informal report of her and Wilkins’ work if he wanted to learn more. There was no indication she was reluctant to share her findings. The actual process that led to the double helix involved Watson and Crick spending about a month experimenting with cardboard molecular models and applying the basic rules of chemistry. Only after they arrived at their solution did they realize it matched Franklin’s experimental data.
Franklin’s relationship with her Cambridge counterparts was far from adversarial. She continued to share ideas and data with both Watson and Crick, and, as Nautilus notes, she became particularly close friends with Crick and his wife, Odile. Franklin was a regular guest at their home, joining in on gatherings and even convalescing with the Cricks during her battle with cancer. Letters from Odile Crick, quoted in recent biographies, reveal a warm and supportive friendship that endured until Franklin’s untimely death at age 37.
Nevertheless, the public narrative has often focused on Franklin’s exclusion from the Nobel Prize awarded to Watson, Crick, and Wilkins in 1962. Photograph 51 seeks to address this imbalance, offering a more complete portrait of Franklin as a scientist and as a person. The film will trace her quest to uncover the secret codes of life while navigating a male-dominated scientific establishment, as well as her struggles with both colleagues and rivals. Portman’s portrayal promises to highlight Franklin’s determination, intellect, and the challenges she faced in an era when women in science were often marginalized.
Franklin’s story, as described in The Cinemaholic, is one of both triumph and tragedy. She is remembered as the “forgotten heroine” and a “feminist icon”—titles that reflect her pivotal but underappreciated role in one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the twentieth century. The film’s title itself refers to the famous “Photograph 51,” the x-ray image Franklin captured that provided critical evidence for the double-helix structure of DNA.
Director Tom Hooper, whose credits include The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, and The Danish Girl, brings a keen eye for historical drama to the project. His ability to balance personal stories with broader cultural significance is expected to serve Franklin’s narrative well. Hooper’s previous work has often focused on overlooked or misunderstood figures, making him a fitting choice to helm a film about a scientist whose contributions have long been in the shadows.
Natalie Portman, fresh from recent projects such as the animated film The Twist and Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth, brings both star power and sensitivity to the role. Her upcoming slate also includes The Gallerist with Jenna Ortega and Lena Dunham’s romantic comedy Good Sex, but it is her turn as Franklin that has generated particular excitement among fans of both science and cinema.
While Photograph 51 promises to shed new light on Franklin’s contributions, the story of DNA’s discovery is also a testament to the collaborative—and sometimes contentious—nature of science. Watson and Crick’s achievement, though independent of Franklin’s direct data, was ultimately validated by her findings. Their subsequent friendship with Franklin, as documented in letters and memoirs, complicates the narrative of rivalry and theft that has dominated popular accounts.
Francis Crick’s later life offers a fascinating postscript to the DNA saga. After his molecular biology triumphs, Crick turned his attention to neuroscience and the mysteries of consciousness. In 1977, he relocated to the Salk Institute in California, where he became a driving force behind efforts to map the brain and understand the origins of consciousness. He collaborated with cognitive scientists and future AI pioneers like Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield, who would go on to share the Nobel Prize in 2024. Crick’s 1994 book, The Astonishing Hypothesis, became a bestseller and influenced generations of scientists and the public alike.
Outside the laboratory, Crick nurtured a deep and unexpected passion for poetry, particularly through his friendship with poet Michael McClure. Their correspondence, which spanned decades, revealed a more subjective and intuitive side to Crick—a reminder that the pursuit of science is not just about logic and data, but also about creativity, inspiration, and the human spirit.
As Photograph 51 prepares to bring Franklin’s story to the big screen, audiences will have the opportunity to reconsider the legacy of a scientist whose vision helped unlock the very code of life. The film’s production, set to begin in the UK in March 2026, is poised to spark renewed interest in the unsung heroes of science and the enduring questions of recognition, collaboration, and what it truly means to make a discovery.
Franklin’s journey, once confined to the footnotes of history, now stands ready to claim its rightful place in the spotlight—a testament to perseverance, intellect, and the ongoing quest to understand the world around us.
