Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, and Vincent Cassel are joining Natalie Portman and Milas Kunis in the cast of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan.

The mind-bending drama is loosely based on Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and centers on Nina (Portman), a dancer cracking under the pressures of being named the lead soloist in the New York ballet production. Kunis, whose resemblance to Portman comes in handy here, plays a bitter rival.

According to /Film, Ryder is set to portray Beth, a veteran dancer struggling with losing the spotlight as she nears the end of her career. Hershey is also a former dancer and Nina’s mother. Cassel is Yevna, the company’s dictatorial director.

Aronofsky’s follow-up to The Wrestler has been gaining as much attention for its cast as it has discussion of the script’s aggressive lesbian sex scene between Portman and Kunis. Reuters reports Fox Searchlight is already interested in the $10-12 million film and has entered final negotiations to co-produce and distribute. There are a few roles left to cast, but otherwise shooting should start before the end of the year.

I’ve read the supernatural script by Mark Heyman and it’s a difficult undertaking for all involved. For one, the roles will be physically demanding for the young actresses who will be asked to perform various feats of ballet. Aronofsky has a delicate dance of his own in keeping the complexity of Nina’s delusions in order. If it turns out as solid as his other work and worthy of its talented cast, I don’t doubt we’ll see it next awards season.