There has long been talk of a remake of Cleopatra, with two potential new offerings in the pipeline. There have been rumors of a Gal Gadot led title for some time, and now it seems like there could also be a Zendaya picture.
The latter seems more likely to happen, as it already has Denis Villeneuve behind it. Now that the director has finished with Dune: Part Two, there’s a chance that he could turn his attention to making a fresh Cleopatra offering for modern audiences.
Denis Villeneuve’s ‘CLEOPATRA’ film is currently being rewritten by ‘1917’ and ‘LAST NIGHT IN SOHO’ writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
Zendaya is still set to play Cleopatra. pic.twitter.com/a47Mq1q2Ez
— Denis Villeneuve Universe (@DenisVfilms) February 5, 2024
Cleopatra and Surrounding Setting are Huge in the Mainstream
Cleopatra is one of the most famous characters in history, garnering so much fascination in the mainstream. The character has been represented frequently in the iGaming industry and has even inspired games that focus on the wider region. For instance, many people play Sahara Riches Cash Collect slot game, which takes players deep into the desert that covers some of Egypt and various other African countries.
Ancient Egypt has been a popular setting for many films over the years, and the interest in it can be traced back to the 1963 picture from Joseph L. Mankiewicz. There have long been calls for a modern remake of that classic, and it seems that this could soon come to pass. However, the new offering is likely to be different from the original, as more historical research into the figure has been done in the decades since its release.
Zendaya and Villeneuve Becoming Solid Partnership
The world’s best directors will often form a partnership with an actor and use them across various pictures. It’s clear that Villeneuve is keen on using Zendaya as much as possible, and the legendary director could take the actor to the next level in her career.
If this Cleopatra picture goes ahead, it will mark the third time that Zendaya has worked with the Prisoners director. There’s a budding relationship going on between the two, with both stars working to elevate each other. There’s no doubt that the 27-year-old would be a perfect fit for the ancient Egyptian ruler, and she could attract new generations to the allure of this era.
New Film May Depend on the Future of Dune
Whether Villeneuve’s Cleopatra gets made or not could come down to the fate of the Dune franchise. When the director released Dune: Part Two, he expressed an interest in adapting other books in the series from Frank Herbert.
There’s a possibility that Dune Messiah will get made thanks to the success of the latest movie, which brought in more than $696 million worldwide. There’s also a spin-off series called Dune: Prophecy on HBO Max, which Villeneuve will be involved in. This suggests that there’s a keen interest in expanding the franchise.
There will most likely be an announcement soon if another Dune movie will go ahead. If that happens, Villeneuve will have to prioritize this over his Cleopatra film. The historical offering may still happen, but it would probably be put off for several years.