As Jane Got A Gun financier Scott Steindorff scrambled on Tuesday evening [19] to replace no-show director Lynne Ramsay, the project’s sales agent Exclusive Media said it was confident a new hire would be found within 24 hours.

Stone Village Productions head Steindorff told ScreenDaily that he was in negotiations with a potentially imminent replacement on the Natalie Portman Western after Ramsay failed to show up for the first day of shooting on Monday in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The incident happened after what Steindorff claimed had been an eleventh hour attempt by Ramsay lawyer to renegotiate terms.

Meanwhile Exclusive Media, which handles international sales on Jane Got A Gun pursuant to a deal cut last autumn with Scott Pictures International, the company launched by Stone Village Productions affiliate Scott Pictures, issued the following statement:

“As the international sales team for Jane Got A Gun we are disappointed by the departure of Lynne Ramsay but Scott Steindorff and the production team have our full support and we are fully confident the film schedule will be back on track within 24 hours as we understand a replacement director is already in hand.”

Ramsay’s failure to appear is not the first mishap to befall the production. Earlier this month Portman’s leading man, Michael Fassbender, left the project after what sources claim was a falling-out with the director.

Joel Edgerton, originally cast to play the villain, assumed Fassbender’s role and Jude Law was brought on to play the gang leader.

Jane Got A Gun centres on a woman who enlists her ex-lover to save her outlaw husband from a gang. Brian Duffield wrote the screenplay.

Steindorff and banker Peter Nathanial are financing and producing with Portman through her Handsomecharlie Films label alongside Terry Dougas of 1821 and Chris Coen.

Ramsay was not available for comment.