Gawker: defamer, cleo

Soderbergh Switches Projects To Bat 'Moneyball' at Pitt

Kyle Buchanan — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:45:06 EST

Soderbergh's insane Cleo delayed. Damn you, Brad Pitt. [Variety]

Who Dares Replace Hugh Jackman In Steven Soderbergh's Insane, 3-D Cleopatra Musical?

Kyle Buchanan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:50:16 EST

Apparently, Hugh Jackman would prefer his career uncapsized, as Variety notes he has pulled out of Steven Soderbergh's upcoming 3-D musical, Cleo (citing scoffed-at "scheduling conflicts"). So who in Hollywood can replace him?

It's a shame that Robert Downey Jr. is locked into franchise properties until roughly the year 2015, as the now-bankable actor possesses both the singing ability and proven "what the hell" track record for Cleo. And since Soderbergh will need a trim, youthful Marc Anthony to balance out Ray Winstone's Julius Caesar, we imagine that stipulation may clash with the "no diets" rider of 30 Odd Foot of Grunts frontman Russell Crowe.

Thus, Soderbergh may want to consider making a more unconventional choice (an unlikely route for a filmmaker making a 3-D, Guided by Voices-penned musical, we're aware). Why not choose between singing rivals Jamie Foxx and Terrence Howard—one self-enamored, the other "as soft as doctor's cotton"? Can we interest you in either Conchord? Or does the role of Marc Anthony call for the boyish looks and "not entirely present" personality of a David Archuleta?

Oh, who are we kidding. Johnny Depp and Ewan McGregor, call your agents—it's time to go down swinging and singing!

Hugh Jackman off 'Cleo' wishlist [Variety]

'Cleo' Unites A-LIst Talent For World's Finest Batshit 3-D Musical

STV — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:20:29 EDT

It's long been rumored that Steven Soderbergh keeps a checklist in his wallet — a tattered index card on which he's scrawled dreams nurtured since before his sex, lies and videotape breakthrough nearly 20 years ago: "win an Oscar," "make a four-hour Socialist biopic," "work with a porn star," and alllll the way at the bottom, "shoot a completely fucked-up 3-D musical version of Cleopatra." Finally, with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Hugh Jackman in talks to star, he might be that much closer to crossing off that last Impossible Dream.

Variety reports that Soderbergh will follow his current film The Girlfriend Experience with Cleo, a $30 million project with music provided by Guided By Voices and a script by GBV's bassist James Greer. No one seems to know how or even if this news squares with the Liberace biopic Soderbergh is plotting with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, but we admit we're a little less intrigued by Cleo knowing that Jackman would not, in fact, play the Egyptian queen. And surely, in a sleek, dark loft somewhere in Australia, a sleepless Baz Luhrmann is wondering why he didn't think of this first.

Soderbergh to make 3-D 'Cleopatra' [Variety]