Is it time for new movie about Cleopatra?

[MsAmerica]

I'd recently seen the 1963 version on television, realized it's based on a book at the time, and was re-reading Stacy Schiff's great book, Cleopatra ... and I was thinking that I believe there have only been three English-language talkie films about Cleopatra: 1934 (Claudette Colbert), 1945 (Vivien Leigh), and 1963 (Elizabeth Taylor).

Aren't we due for another one? It would be fun to have Schiff's mastermind version.

Yeah, I could go for that. I listened to a podcast about her a while ago. Her life was pretty mad.

I thought Carry on Cleo had already said it all 🤣

Isn’t there one being made for release next year starring Gal Gadot as Cleopatra?

If there was a new film, I hope it would be about more than just her supposed beauty and her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.

There was a lot more to Cleopatra than that.

Interesting casting

Isn't there one that Jada Pickett Smith directed and she got heat for claiming Cleopatra was a 'black queen' when she was most likely greek?

Nobody really knows why Cleopatra looked like. All we know is that it's likely she had a large nose, was part Macedonian, and had curly hair.

Oooh, tell us more!

I think Cicero said that her eyes ‘invited conversation’.

She was a Ptolemy but I believe that one of her grandmothers is unknown, so could in theory have had origins within the continent of Africa. It's basically the idea of Prof Shelley Haley - she's the academic who collaborated with Netflix on the (panned) Jada Pinkett Smith production.

I believe there have only been three English-language talkie films about Cleopatra: 1934 (Claudette Colbert), 1945 (Vivien Leigh), and 1963 (Elizabeth Taylor).

And 1964 (Amanda Barrie)
"Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me!"

I would definitely want to see this. Plenty of interesting casting possibilities available.

She was reportedly fascinating to converse with and had a good sense of humor.

IIRC, She married her brother, had babies with him, I think? & knocked off her siblings, went to war with her sisters. I don't suppose anyone will make movies about all those events, though.

Not quite. She married her brother, which was quite common and partly for show, and although the siblings did make war on each other, her children were with Caesar and Antony.

The interesting thing about the book is that it goes on at length about her being smart, a good ruler, and possibly the richest person in the world.

Denise Villeneuve is working on 'Cleopatra' movie. Zendaya is rumoured to star, which I hope won't happen.

I have fond childhood memories of watching 1963 movie. The scene where Cleopatra enters Rome is one of my favourite movie scenes. It was so majestic when I was watching it for the very first time.

Greek.

What was the podcast if you can remember?

Why not Zendaya? I think she’d do a great job.

@Bostoncreme It was The Rest Is History.

Did anyone see Nothing Like A Dame last night where Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright were discussing being asked to play Cleopatra? Most of them decided because they felt they weren't beautiful enough. Maggie Smith went to Canada to play her onstage & Judi Dench played her on stage in UK.

Anyone read Roman Holiday by Jodi Taylor? Features Cleopatra. Genuinely laugh out loud funny.

It's a short story, but you may not fully 'get' it if you're not familiar with the series overall.

For two reasons:

1. I don't think she can handle a role like that. She was fine in Challengers (although both Feist & O'Connor were much better) but was very flat in Dune. I don't think she can add much depth to the character, especially one that is supposed to have some life experience on her shoulders.

2. The bigger reason is that I would love a non-stunning Cleopatra. I think it would be much more interesting to see a film about a women who charms the hell of the most powerful men with her intelligence and wit, rather by her looks. I know it's Hollywood, so they won't cast anyone not pretty, but I'd love somebody with less perfect face than Gal Gadot or Zendaya.

@Epli understandable! Especially your second point

@Epli I am in agreement although I rate her more than you. I haven’t seen Dune 2 though. First one was long enough for me.