Earlier this month, the rumor mill was going gaga over a story about Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga. At the time, we learned the two actresses were supposedly competing for a role in an upcoming remake of Cleopatra, the epic 1963 movies that starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Oscar-winning star Jolie, 43, has been in on-off talks for months with studio bosses at Sony over playing the part, which was essayed by Elizabeth Taylor in a 1963 film version.
But Gaga, 32, is now also in the running following the success of A Star Is Born, her big screen debut as a leading lady.
The source said it could be so close between Jolie and Gaga that “both of them will have to audition – a pretty rare ask of an A-list star.”
OK! Magazine was the first to report about a potential Cleopatra remake being in the works. This isn’t the first time we had ever heard of the possibility of Cleopatrabeing remade; however, it did also include the rumor that both A Star Is Born‘s Lady Gaga and Maleficent 2‘s Angelina Jolie would be competing for the role.
A Sony executive also allegedly told the Daily Star that the project is moving forward and that the role will considerably amp up the star power of the person who eventually lands the role.
There’s at least some grain of truth to the reports. Over a year ago, Blade Runner 2049 and Dune director Denis Villeneuve was being eyed to take over the project. If that happens, it would be after Dune, which is currently filling out its cast.
Previously, it was also widely known that Angelina Jolie was eyed for the project when it was first in development, although since it never came to fruition the Tomb Raider actress obviously never joined.
Angelina Jolie has recently put most of her focus on directing projects. Back in 2014, she said she had never “been comfortable” in front of the camera and would be focusing more on projects where she could be behind the camera. She took some projects like By the Sea (which she also directed) and Kung Fu Panda 3 after, and in 2017 she ultimately decided to focus on acting again.
Since then, she has signed on for Maleficent 2 and another Disney project in The One and Only Ivan, where she will voice an elephant named Stella.
With the move back into acting, a big role like Cleopatra might fit.
Lady Gaga’s acting profile has been raised considerably with A Star Is Born, for which she has earned a slew of awards nods and even won a Critics’ Choice Award this weekend.
So far, the rumors seem to be relegated to just a few outlets, but if they do ever come to fruition, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, let’s just see if Lady Gaga can rack up any more awards wins for A Star is Born.
(Excerpts) Read More at: Tribune.com.pk and CinemaBlend.com