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Hugh Jackman Drops Out of Cleo Talks

January 1, 2009

Hugh Jackman has removed himself from discussions to star with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Cleo, a 3-D live action musical which Steven Soderbergh will direct as his next project, says Variety.

No deal had been signed as the ambitious $30 million project is completing its financing, but Soderbergh asked his Traffic star Zeta-Jones to play Cleopatra and wanted new Oscar host Jackman to play her lover, the Roman general Marc Antony.

Discussions are reportedly in the works for the role of Julius Caesar to be played by Ray Winstone (Beowulf, upcoming Edge of Darkness)

Jackman's exit is attributed by insiders to scheduling conflicts.

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COMMENTS (15)

Posted by:

sold

January 2, 2009

I'm thinking Hugh will have bigger fish to fry than a 3D flick. ASSUMING "Wolverine" delivers big, more big-bucks, higher profile movies will come calling.

Posted by:

Gamesith

January 2, 2009

HA, he's scared of Michael Douglas. that's why lol!!!

Posted by:

Everlasting Gobstopper

January 2, 2009

I'd say he's trying not to attach himself to any more big budget flops for awhile.

*cough* Deception.......*cough*.....Austrailia......*cough*

Posted by:

Brendon Connelly

January 2, 2009

This is a crying shame.

Nothing small fry about a 3D film - that's like saying a colour film is small fry, or a film with stereo sound. Ridiculous assertion.

Soderbergh will really hit this one out of the park, I'm sure, and I hope he gets a great replacement for Jackman lined up soon.

Posted by:

Sunny

January 2, 2009

Personally, I think Hugh is making a sound decision. This film has "turkey" written all over it. $30 million is "ambitious"? It's low budget in this day and age.

Posted by:

Ellen

January 2, 2009

I can understand why he'd want more of a surefire box office hit this time, although I think people's perception of the wonderful AUSTRALIA were tainted by snide critics thrilled with their own cleverness and a relatively slow start at the US b.o. because its core audience was prepping for Thanksgiving. He's the only real deal in terms of leading men in musicals, as far as I'm concerned. Harry Connick Jr. might be an OK replacement--but he's no Hugh. No one else but Hugh could have gotten me to the Imperial Theatre 20 times to see The Boy from Oz. It's Soderbergh's loss--and ours.

Posted by:

Methos

January 2, 2009

A Cleopatra musical..... yeah I can see why he dropped out.

Posted by:

marthix

January 2, 2009

That was really good news! I die to see Hugh Jackman in a film musical (I absolutely believe a musical will earn him an OSCAR nomination at last) but that "Cleo" never seemed to be the great opportunity for the actor to show his amazing skills as a singer and dancer. I have a feeling, or just a hope, that he will do CAROUSEL instead...

Posted by:

joe asylo

January 2, 2009

soderbergh is making a musical?
since went.

Posted by:

SoulPatch

January 2, 2009

Good move Hugh. Soderburgh has only made 3 good movies. Ocean's 11, Traffic, and Out of Sight. Other then that, he has nothing. Bubble? C'mon. Erin Brokovich was only good because of Julia Robers. Cleo just sounds like another experiment that will go wrong.