Just a little over forty years ago, in 1963, Cleopatra appeared in cinemas. The movie, starring Elizabeth Taylor in the title role, actually had very good very boxoffice returns. Unfortunately Cleopatra was, at the time, the most expensive movie ever produced, so the money it made did not look as good as it would have otherwise. As a matter of fact, if you adjust for inflation, it might still be the most expensive movie ever produced. So, event thought it eventually made it’s money back, it was seen as a big risk and left a bitter aftertaste.

But that was a long time ago, and apparently Columbia Pictures thinks the world is ready for a new movie about the Egyptian queen:

Columbia Pictures has acquired screen rights to Cleopatra, a new take on the life of the Egyptian queen that will be written by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff.