UPDATE: Angelina Jolie Wants to Play Cleopatra

by Perri Nemiroff Jun 10th 2010 // 3:35PM

Filed under: Casting, Deals, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt

UPDATE: Us Magazine has now confirmed that Jolie will, indeed, play Cleopatra in the upcoming film.

There was Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, and dozens more, but now it seems as though we'll be adding yet another name to the long list of ladies to play Cleopatra, Angelina Jolie. As reported by USA Today, producer Scott Rudin nabbed the rights to Stacy Schiff's upcoming biography, Cleopatra: A Life. While discussing the news at a luncheon to promote the book, Schiff and Little, Brown publisher, Michael Pietsch, revealed Rubin acquired the work with Jolie in mind for the lead role. That's great, but you can't always get what you want, right? Not in the producer of No Country for Old Men, Doubt and Fantastic Mr. Fox's case. Rudin's office confirmed the news; the film "is being developed for and with Jolie."

According to the book's description on Amazon, Schiff will explore the usual and delve into the elements of the Queen of the Nile's regal existence including her ascension to the throne at 18, the power struggle with her younger brother, her romance with Julius Caesar, an affair with Mark Antony and ultimately, her demise. So what makes this book worth reading over the slew already on the market? "Stacy Schiff accomplishes a feat that has eluded artists and writers for centuries: capturing fully the operatic life of an exceptionally seductive and powerful woman, whose death ushered in a new world order."

Still sounds like any old biography to me, but the real news here is Jolie. Isn't it about time she played Cleo? Not only does she look the part, but she's also guaranteed to nail every aspect of the Queen from powerful politician to romantic manipulator. Schiff herself even said, "Physically, she's the perfect look." But no Cleopatra is complete without her men and, conveniently enough, Schiff finds Brad Pitt would make the perfect Mark Antony. However, when asked about Caesar potentials, the writer comes up empty. I'd be amused to see it kept in the dating circle and go with Angie's former husband and blood buddy, Billy Bob Thornton.

Big names will certainly be a necessity with this project, and I'm sure Rudin will have no problem attracting them. Of course famous faces don't guarantee a successful period piece (I'm looking at you, Alexander), particularly here in the states, but they should allot the film a fighting chance at the box office. What it comes down to, is that we've heard this all before. What will we learn or experience with Cleopatra here that we haven't already discovered or done? Schiff's book isn't due to hit shelves until November, so we'll have to wait quite a while to see what we're working with.

Angelina in a spray on tan

And let the collective shit hit the poor single fan.....

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Mach said:

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Angelia plays a great Greek goddess but an Egyptian queen?

paintedlady said:

Mach said:

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Angelia plays a great Greek goddess but an Egyptian queen?

Hollywood is so "I'm so pretty " fucked

Don't wanna crash your thread, Chico but this has PAUL MOONEY written all over it...

Harlepolis said:

Don't wanna crash your thread, Chico but this has PAUL MOONEY written all over it...

you're not crashing the thread if your post is related to the topic. so have at it hun.

Harlepolis said:

Don't wanna crash your thread, Chico but this has PAUL MOONEY written all over it...

how insightful.............

paintedlady said:

Mach said:

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Angelia plays a great Greek goddess but an Egyptian queen?

A Hellenistic queen, to be exact. So Angelina Jolie can play the part; she played a Greek woman before.

did anyone watch that series Rome? they had a white Cleopatra for that as well, IIRC.

I don't think Cleopatra was dark-skinned, but they could have at least gotten a light-skinned black woman to play the part.

Aryll said:

I don't think Cleopatra was dark-skinned, but they could have at least gotten a light-skinned black woman to play the part.

She was a BLACK WOMAN period. Light or dark, is beside the point.

Mach said:

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Unlike Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor ...you mean?

Harlepolis said:

Aryll said:

I don't think Cleopatra was dark-skinned, but they could have at least gotten a light-skinned black woman to play the part.

She was a BLACK WOMAN period. Light or dark, is beside the point.

Since when is that a fact?

HamsterHuey said:

paintedlady said:

Angelia plays a great Greek goddess but an Egyptian queen?

A Hellenistic queen, to be exact. So Angelina Jolie can play the part; she played a Greek woman before.

To me she wouldn't be a believable Egyptian. Back then they had more Nubian features.. even with those pumped up lips of hers she still wouldn't look the part. Might as well hire Kate Beckinsale, or Kate Winslet or even the actress that played Queen Elisabeth (I forget her name) for the part if its only about acting quality. So many better choices.

I woulod love to see a glammed up Alfred Woodard in this role.

Harlepolis said:

Aryll said:

I don't think Cleopatra was dark-skinned, but they could have at least gotten a light-skinned black woman to play the part.

She was a BLACK WOMAN period. Light or dark, is beside the point.

I acknowledged that she was black and that a black woman should play the part. I was also disagreeing with what Paul Mooney said.

PANDURITO said:

Mach said:

Isn't she too fair skinned to pull off Cleopatra

Unlike Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor ...you mean?

No...that wasn't even in my thoughts ... nice projection though

Aryll said:

I don't think Cleopatra was dark-skinned, but they could have at least gotten a light-skinned black woman to play the part.

.. they are only interested in "box office draw" $$$

[Edited 6/13/10 13:59pm]

paintedlady said:

HamsterHuey said:

A Hellenistic queen, to be exact. So Angelina Jolie can play the part; she played a Greek woman before.

To me she wouldn't be a believable Egyptian. Back then they had more Nubian features.. even with those pumped up lips of hers she still wouldn't look the part. Might as well hire Kate Beckinsale, or Kate Winslet or even the actress that played Queen Elisabeth (I forget her name) for the part if its only about acting quality. So many better choices.

I woulod love to see a glammed up Alfred Woodard in this role.

Cate Blanchett.

Harlepolis said:

paintedlady said:

To me she wouldn't be a believable Egyptian. Back then they had more Nubian features.. even with those pumped up lips of hers she still wouldn't look the part. Might as well hire Kate Beckinsale, or Kate Winslet or even the actress that played Queen Elisabeth (I forget her name) for the part if its only about acting quality. So many better choices.

I woulod love to see a glammed up Alfred Woodard in this role.

Cate Blanchett.

TY! Yes, I could see her playing Cleopatra before Angelina.

CHIC0 said:

Tina is fierce but I'm not sure the movie is about Granny Cleo.

CHIC0 said:

So who do you all think could play the part ? Angie baby can act the part sure

but who else ?

PANDURITO said:

Harlepolis said:

She was a BLACK WOMAN period. Light or dark, is beside the point.

Since when is that a fact?

Oh please, you're not that naive

paintedlady said:

Harlepolis said:

Cate Blanchett.

TY! Yes, I could see her playing Cleopatra before Angelina.

Cate Blanchett can play any MF person or thing on this planet and beyond.

What about Thandie Newton?

Kimberly Elise is fierce also.

If they were just going for Star Power then the obvious non-white (well, part white, but you know) choice would be Halle. I'm actually surprised she's not the one. Wonder if she was even a contender.

johnart said:

paintedlady said:

TY! Yes, I could see her playing Cleopatra before Angelina.

Cate Blanchett can play any MF person or thing on this planet and beyond.

What about Thandie Newton?

Kimberly Elise is fierce also.

If they were just going for Star Power then the obvious non-white (well, part white, but you know) choice would be Halle. I'm actually surprised she's not the one. Wonder if she was even a contender.

I nominate this dame

[img:$uid]http://blog.newsok.com/staticblog/files/2008/09/kerry-washington.jpg[/img:$uid]

I'm sure folk will say that Angie already has "proven" herself by playing non-white (mixed heritage) Mariane Pearl (A Mighty Heart). She did a lovely job, but I'm sorry, even though Mariane is light skinned, I found myself distracted and thinking Angie looked too white for the part.