Steven Soderbergh's Liberace Biopic With Michael Douglas And Matt Damon Lands At HBO

Before director Steven Soderbergh got so busy talking about Contagion, Magic Mike and rumors of his own retirement, he was trying to get to work on a biopic about the flashy pianist Liberace, with Matt Damon and Michael Douglas set to star. It seemed logical to assume that the movie woudl be a theatrical release, given that's where Soderbergh has previously made all his films and, come on, Matt Damon and Michael Douglas are movie stars. But now Douglas's much anticipated return to acting has landed at the next-best place to the movies: HBO. That's right, according to The Hollywood Reporter the subscription cable network has snagged the rights to present Behind the Candelabra, directed by Soderbergh and starring Douglas and Damon.

The film is said to take a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainer and his complicated relationship with his younger lover Scott Thorsen (Damon). The project has Soderbergh directing a script by Richard LaGravenese (whose credits, although shaky of late, consist of a few gems like Beloved and Bridges of Madison County) that give me confidence for this material). Regardless, it will be great to see Douglas back in front of the cameras again, especially in such a flashy and high-profile role, and he couldn't have a better partner to pull it off than Matt Damon.

HBO Films president Len Amato said about the film,

it's funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us.

Producer Jerry Weintruab, added that he's,

thrilled that we have the incomparable Michael Douglas to inhabit the role of Liberace, as well as the exceptional Matt Damon to play the pivotal part of Scott Thorson. Putting these two fine actors in the creative hands of Steven Soderberg -- it doesn't get better than that.

Can you feel the looming presence of the EGOT? As Tracy Jordan will tell you, that's the rare achievement of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-- and Damon and Douglas seem to be positioning themselves to win it. They both already have the hardest button to button with an Oscar apiece (OK, Douglas actually has two), and each has previously been Emmy-nominated. As the cast of HBO's Mildred Pierce could tell us, there's no better way to get an Emmy win that to star in a flashy movie for that channel. And while we're at it, throw one in for Soderbergh too-- I wouldn't mind seeing him follow Scorsese's footsteps and take Best Director at next year's Emmys