Deadline is reporting today that David Fincher is being eyed to direct Sony Pictures’ Cleopatra biopic, based on Stacy Schiff’s bestselling book Cleopatra: A Life. Angelina Jolie is attached to star and as of now the director’s chair is empty. It may not stay that way for long though. Sony wants Fincher to direct and it seems like a logical decision. He just directed The Social Network for them and we all know how well that did. Furthermore, his producer on The Social Network, Scott Rudin, is also producing Cleopatra. Lastly, Fincher is working again with Rudin on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which is also at Sony. So re-teaming Fincher and Rudin again for Cleopatra would make sense.
Apparently, it’s going to come down to timing. Sony wants this film to get underway soon but Fincher has a busy plate. Taking up his time is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy (he’s expected to stay on board for the next two films) and he also has 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo. So who knows if this will work into his schedule. My only concern is that Fincher has never directed a picture of this scale. Could he handle it? Sony seems to think so. We’ll keep you posted.