MUMBAI: Ang Lee, who is awaiting the release of his latest film Life of Pi will reportedly helm the Angelina Jolie-starrer Cleopatra after talks with filmmaker David Fincher broke off. It is said that Fincher was the third filmmaker who decided to pass on the project that was in development since 2010.
In October last year, ‘Titanic‘ helmer James Cameron was attached to the project but he let it go because of his commitment to the Avatar film franchise. Later, Paul Greengrass, director of The Bourne Ultimatum was tapped but he too remained hesitant to take up the project.
The film is an adaptation of Stacy Schiff`s book Cleopatra: A Life, the story of which sees Cleopatra as a firm ruler and military tactician who embarks on a ruthless rise to power. She twice married her brothers, killing each of them as well as a sister.
Romantic alliances with the much-older Roman honchos Julius Caesar and Marc Antony helped Cleopatra solidify power, but her relations with Antony undid both of them.