February 13, 2011

It's no secret that for a longer time, relatively still unknown actor, Mark Hildebrandt will take a role of Roman general Mark Antony in this Cleopatra project.

He has been connected with various big movie projects last few years like new Mad Max (Tom Hardy eventually got the role as a replacement due to Mark's injury but the movie is on hold anyway), Excalibur project which was then remade into other project and then buried, World of Warcraft movie where he will play King Varian Wrynn (also that project is moving slow but hopefully will start this year) and Cleopatra, which is still in script phase but should prolly start rolling this year.

With all this project connections Mark is not sitting home waiting for things to start rolling, cuz he has to stay in shape even though the movies are slow. For last 2 years he has been a regular student of Robert Goodwin's Fighting Workout and learning how to handle a sword and similar weapons for few movies like Angelina Jolie's "Cleopatra" in role of Mark Antony. With that long practicing he is prolly best swordsman actor in Hollywood at this moment and after he finishes the above projects I think we will see him in more movies where sword skills are required.

His quote from Bob Goodwin site:

“Robert Goodwin is a mentor and a friend and the best at what he does.  My training in Medieval swordsmanship and Filipino Kali bring me confidence in all parts of my life.  I am also prepared for any on set variables asked of me.  I urge any actor at any level to prepare with Robert Goodwin.”
Mark Hildebrandt

Source - stuntfightingworkout.com

December 24, 2011

MTV: Is "Cleopatra" something you're currently developing?

Fincher: That's something I would love to do with Angie [Jolie]. It's something that was brought to me that you have to take seriously. [Producer] Scott [Rudin] has this wonderful book, and hopefully [screenwriter] Eric [Roth] can find a way in. I'm not interested in a giant sword-and-sandal epic. We've seen scope; everyone knows we can fake that. That stuff doesn't impress in the way that it did even 10 years ago. We expect that from Starz [now]. So that's not the reason to do that. What is it about this character that has purchased this place in our history and imagination that is relatable today?

Source - mtv.com

November 18, 2011


Word that David Fincher was a possibility to helm Sony Picture’s upcoming Cleopatrabiopic surfaced earlier this year. The acclaimed filmmaker is reportedly still circling the project, which Angelina Jolie remains attached to headline.

Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River, Robin Hood) penned an earlier draft of the film’s screenplay, which is based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Stacy Schiff’s decorated best-selling non-fiction book, “Cleopatra: A Life”. Now, another Academy Award-winning scriber is in negotiations to take a stab at the Cleopatra script.

Source - screenrant.com

June 3, 2011

While I can't see myself ever advocating a remake of Cleopatra, if there's a modern actress better suited for the part than Angelina Jolie I will eat my shoe. A true beauty in every sense of the word, it makes sense that the project has become a passion for the actress since being attached last year. Now Jolie has started openly talking about what direction she'd like to see the project go in, and what's strange is that her ideas would seemingly make her an unwise choice for the part. 

Sitting down with The Telegraph, Jolie began to discuss researched elements about the real Cleopatra that she wants to be part of the film, calling the Egyptian queen "very misunderstood." For starters, the actress wants to cut out the elements dealing with her as a glamorous beauty and instead wants to focus on the stronger parts of her personality, mentioning that she was, "a very strong mother, she spoke five languages and she was a leader." Unable to get Elizabeth Taylor's blessing for the film before she died, Jolie even admits that her performance won't be "as lovely as Elizabeth’s" and won't explore the character as a sex symbol.

Source - cinemablend.com