Michael Douglas to play Liberace for Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh is in the early stages of developing a biopic about Liberace for Warner Bros., which he will direct.

The filmmaker said he has drafted his “Traffic” star Michael Douglas to play the flamboyant pianist.

Richard LaGravanese is writing the script, and Jerry Weintraub will produce.

Soderbergh is in discussions with Matt Damon to play Scott Thorson, who sued Liberace in 1982 for $113 million in palimony, claiming he was the entertainer’s companion for five years. Even though Liberace never wavered from career-long denials that he was gay, Thorson reportedly settled for $95,000 in 1986.

Liberace died in 1987 of complications from AIDS at age 67.

- from Variety

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in hot water

Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones have been fined more than e2,000 ($3,000) after disembarking from their luxury yacht near Portofino, Italy, without the right paperwork.
The couple fell-foul of Italian authorities on Friday who said they had broken immigration and anti-terrorism laws by landing at the Ligurian destination without notifying them of their arrival.

“It’s a question of security; of guarding the port and the visitors,” a spokesman said.

- from Variety