Jude the Great

As we have reported before, “Hannibal” producer Dino De Laurentis wants to make a film based on the life of Alexander the Great. To read up on the great emperor, he has bought three books by the Italian Valerio Manfredi. But now it looks as if the Americans might be quicker in making their own version of the epic. Shooting is expected to start as soon as the now imminent actor’s strike has been solved. Favourite among actors to play the main part is Jude Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”).

Benefiting from the success of “Gladiator”, which has revived interest in great epics, director Christopher McQuarrie (“Way Of The Gun”) and script writer Peter Buckman (“Jurassic Park III”) have started working on «Alexander the Great», for which Warner Bros are prepared to pay up to $85 million. The story of Alexander’s conquests in Persia, Egypt and India and his friendship with Hephaistion should match the action and great emotional drama of the Oscar-winning film. The producers are talking of more impressive mass scenes and bloody battle-ground pictures. At the same time, the gay tendencies of the emperor will not be (entirely) left out.