Denis Villeneuve has become a hot commodity in Hollywood, and it looks like Sony wants to get in on the action.
Variety reports that Villeneuve is in talks to direct Sony’s long-in-development Cleopatra biopic.
The film will be based of Stacy Schiff’s novel on the powerful Egyptian ruler. Schiff deconstructs Cleopatra’s life as an Egyptian ruler and her tumultuous relationship with Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and Rome. The novel separates fact from fiction and chronicles the rise and fall of one of the most powerful women in human history.
Sony attempted to get directors Paul Greengrass and James Cameron on board with no success. Angelina Jolie was attached to star at some point, that does not seem to be the case anymore.
In leaked emails that surfaced following the Sony hack, Rudin infamously attacked Jolie’s involvement in the film, calling her “a minimally talented spoiled brat.” “Kill me please. Immediately,” he also told Pascal in June 2014 when he learned Jolie was interested in directing the movie.
Villeneuve is currently on a world tour promoting his latest film, Blade Runner 2049. He is currently attached to helm Dune, and Variety says that he will be directing that while developing Cleopatra.
The deal may not go through as Villeneuve might be bombarded with offers, a historical biopic may not beat some of the other offers, for example Bond 25.
Source: Variety.