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Hugh Jackman Out Of Running For Cleo
Can't schedule in Soderbergh's musical

02 January 2009  |  Written by Helen O'Hara  


Hugh Jackman has bowed out of the running for Steven Soderbergh's planned rock musical Cleo, blaming scheduling conflicts for the move.

The wonderfully barmy-sounding project retells the tragedy of Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her Roman lover Marc Antony through the medium of an Elvis-style musical, with music by indie rockers Guided by Voices. We know what you're thinking - cliche!

The other news on the project today is that Ray Winstone is in talks to play Julius Caesar in the film, presumably in flashbacks as ol' JC wasn't around by the time that Marc Antony and Cleo started gettin' it on (unless we're rewriting history, anyway).

Jackman, who has X-Men Origins: Wolverine coming up and is also hosting next year's Oscars, hasn't elaborated on what scheduling conflicts prevent him from taking the role and giving his tonsils a twirl around a full-on musical, but we're guessing it's a jazz retelling of the Romulus and Remus story or something predictable like that.


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Your Comments

RE: Hugh Jackman Out Of Running For Cleo
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Sound words. I just can't help feeling utter revulsion at musicals which don't have Cagney, Kelly, Elvis or Disney characters in. Hugh Jackman. *Shudder* More

Posted by JRockwell at 15:00 on 04 January 2009 | Report This Post

Having just finished Rome I now have visions of Marc Anthony performing Jail House Rock with Pullo and Vorenus as back up dancers. Now that I WOULD pay to see! :) More

Posted by nclowe at 15:32 on 03 January 2009 | Report This Post

The singer with no shame
Remember Clint warbling ' i talk to the trees' in paint your wagon.....classic....who says he ain't got a a sense of humour...saying that though this Cleo musical sound dire, maybe they could do it like the carry on film put to music........ More

Posted by Uncle Ludo at 00:37 on 03 January 2009 | Report This Post

He's probably rehearsing a few song and dance numbers for the Oscars
Just the thought of Ray 'THE GEEZER' Winstone singing is tantalising. Please use Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia on how NOT to do it. More

Posted by Taz69 at 15:31 on 02 January 2009 | Report This Post

on a differatn subject
glad I'm not the only one at work today Helen !! More

Posted by waltham1979 at 14:07 on 02 January 2009 | Report This Post


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