Oh, Mama. Get set for a bloodbath. Every so often a role crops up that you know will cause Tinseltown’s big hitters to salivate with the thought of statuettes and star-packed summer premieres. And frankly, it doesn’t get much bigger than slipping into Liz Taylor’s bath water.
That’s right. Cleopatra is set for a cinematic resurrection thanks to Columbia. The studio has snagged the rights to the tale of the Egyptian Queen’s tale by Pulitzer Prize snaffling author Stacy Schiff. The book isn’t even out until 2009.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were memorably cast as Cleo and Marc Anthony in celluloid back in 1963 and the studio are sure to want a huge star name to float the new flick.
The twisted Queen had a slightly mixed-up life - marrying and killing her siblings and ruling with an iron will.
There is no clue yet as to who will step in to direct. No doubt the studio will aim to sign up Ridley Scott on megaphone duties and is it just us, or would a certain Russell Crowe have the minerals to slip into Burton’s tunic?
