The 'Blade Runner 2049' helmer is eyed to direct the high-profile feature film that once attracted the likes of James Cameron, David Fincher and Angelina Jolie.
- September 29, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Sony is reportedly courting Denis Villeneuve for its upcoming high-profile project. The director is in negotiations to sit behind the lens for a new "Cleopatra" movie. The news came hot on heels of the early praise that he received from the screening of his new movie "Blade Runner 2049".
The movie is adapted from Stacy Schiff's best-selling book that tells the story of the Egyptian female ruler as a shrewd strategist that reshaped the contours of the ancient world against the backdrop of political and sexual intrigue. David Scarpa, Eric Roth, and Brian Helgeland worked on the script.
The likes of James Cameron, Paul Greengrass, Ang Lee and David Fincher were linked to the project in the past. In the 2014 hacking scandal, Angelina Jolie was revealed to show interest in the film as well, but producer Scott Rudin wasn't too fond of her. He called the actress "a minimally talented spoiled brat" in a leaked email exchange with another producer Amy Pascal.
Denis Villeneuve is best known for his critcally-acclaimed crime thrillers like "Prisoners" starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, "Sicario" starring Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin and "Arrival" led by Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.
"Arrival" was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It also earned the French-Canadian helmer an Oscar nomination for Best Director. His newest film, "Blade Runner 2049", is coming out in the United States on October 6. A sequel to the original 1982 movie, it stars Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto.
Besides eyed for "Cleopatra", Villeneuve is attached to direct Legendary's long-delayed remake of "Dune". He is also rumored to reunite with Gyllenhaal for a new crime movie called "The Son". On top of that, he is also among the directors reportedly shortlisted for the next James Bond movie.
