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.
