Renowned for her acting prowess, Angelina Jolie almost portrayed the historical figure Cleopatra in a film, which was ultimately canceled. Following the disastrous reception of Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1963 film, numerous filmmakers have expressed interest in bringing their vision of the Egyptian queen to the screen.
Jolie was attached to one such project, with directors like David Fincher and Ang Lee also being involved before its cancellation. Brian Helgeland, the original screenwriter of the film, has recently provided insight into the canceled film, describing it as a love affair epic infused with elements like political thriller, assassinations, and romance.
Inside Angelina Jolie’s Canceled Epic of Cleopatra
Screenwriter and producer Brian Helgeland recently reflected on the canceled Cleopatra film, which was set to star Angelina Jolie. He shared that he was the “very first writer” to work on the film’s script, which aimed to explore the depths of a love affair entwined with political plots.
“It had elements of a political thriller with assassinations and s*x,” he told Inverse before adding, “But it’s an epic that’s divided between her love affairs with Caesar and Marc Antony.”
He also shared that historical events, such as Cleopatra’s presence in Rome during Caesar’s assassination, were incorporated into the script. Helgeland further stated how the canceled film sought to portray the historical figure as an active participant in shaping history.
“She writes Marc Antony’s speech — ‘friends, Romans, countrymen’ — because he doesn’t know what to say, but she tells him what to say.”
Jolie initially shared her plans for the film in 2011, asserting that the film would be an accurate portrayal of the historical icon. “She has been very misunderstood,” the Maleficent star shared. Jolie aimed to showcase aspects of the Egyptian queen beyond mere glamour.
Denis Villeneuve is Working on a Cleopatra Film
After several attempts by various filmmakers, Denis Villeneuve is currently developing a Cleopatra film. The filmmaker has shared that he will be adapting Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra: A Life for his project, with the screenplay being penned by Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
When asked about any potential connection between his script and Villeneuve’s adaptation, Brian Helgeland denied having any involvement in it. “I don’t have anything to do with the current version unless they call me and want to use my draft,” he said. However, he expressed openness to the idea, saying, “I’ll be very happy if it is.”
Apart from Jolie and Villeneuve, Patty Jenkins was also reported to be working on a film following the Egyptian queen with the Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot at Paramount Pictures. However, Jenkins was later replaced by Kari Skogland.
Subsequent reports indicated the film’s transfer from Paramount to Universal. While Gadot has shared how they were planning to approach the character, there have been no recent updates regarding the progress of the film.
