Internationally known for crime thrillers Sicario, Arrival, and the upcoming, long awaited Blade Runner 2049, director Denis Villeneuve is looking to direct something a little different in Cleopatra. The project has been looking to secure a director for a long time (as evidenced by those leaked Sony emails), and Villeneuve, while an unexpected choice, is an exciting one.
Certainly not the first time Cleopatra will grace our screens, this project finds its source material in Stacy Schiff’s best-selling book, Cleopatra: A Life. The role was made iconic by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film also starring Richard Burton, so no small actress will be hired to play the part.
Angelina Jolie was once attached to star in the project, a move that Scott Rudin described would be “a giant bomb…that any fool could see coming“. Along with Amy Pascal, Jolie’s efforts were put to an end as she tried to lure David Fincher to direct.
With a new slate, and the wondrous Villeneuve at the helm, Cleopatra is once again an exciting project, and an adaptation to be welcomed with open arms. There’s plenty of information to come, including who will star as the temptress, so with the ball now rolling, keep an eye out.
Dennis Villeneuve’s beautifully visual Blade Runner 2049 will be released in the UK October 6.
#Peace.Love.DenisVilleneuve
