Surprising news from the New Mexico set of Natalie Portman Western Jane Got A Gun, as the film has been hit with yet another problem. With cameras set to start shooting yesterday, March 18, director Lynne Ramsay opted not show up and has apparently dropped out of making the movie.

Deadline brought word from producer Scott Steindorff (who is backing the movie alongside Portman) that the crisis hit after a weekend of unspecified acrimony between Ramsay and her filmmaking colleagues, which culminated in her not reporting for work on Monday.

It’s a blow for the film, and a problem for the production, which is now scrambling to find a new director in the wake of the decision. This follows a scheduling delay, which meant Michael Fassbender had to drop out to work on X-Men: Days Of Future Past. Fassbender’s been replaced by Joel Edgerton, with Jude Law stepping into take over Edgerton’s villain role.

“I have millions of dollars invested, we’re ready to shoot, we have a great script, crew and cast,” Steindorff tells Deadline. “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.”

Ramsay, who seemed like a great fit for Brian Duffield’s stripped-down tale of a woman (Portman) who hires a former lover (Edgerton) to help protect her hubby and homestead when his former gang (led by Law) double-crosses him and tries to kill him, had what’s called a pay-or-play contract, which means she gets paid either way. Steindorff is apparently looking into legal options to stop that happening. And there’s been no comment from Ramsay or her representatives so far, but more news as this story develops…