The director tops the list to helm Sony Pictures' biopic from producers Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal.

Following ecstatic early reviews for “Blade Runner 2049,” Denis Villeneuve is in talks to helm Sony Pictures’ epic “Cleopatra” remake. Producers Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal optioned the best-selling 2010 biography “Cleopatra: A Life,” by Stacy Schiff. James Cameron, Paul Greengrass, and David Fincher were previously in the running, but Deadline reports that Villeneuve is at the top of the list. Villeneuve is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most coveted directors, with “Prisoners,” “Sicario,” “Arrival,” and now “Blade Runner 2049,” which has critics raving. The director is also developing a remake of “Dune,” the sci-fi classic by Frank Herbert, with Legendary Entertainment.

It has been rumored that Angelina Jolie would play the legendary Egyptian queen, but Sony would be wise to heed recent charges of whitewashing that have tanked other blockbusters. The script has seen three different scribes so far: David Scarpa, Eric Roth and Brian Helgeland.

Pascal and Rudin are both expecting good years: Pascal produced Aaron Sorkin’s well-reviewed “Molly’s Game” as well as Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” and Rudin has Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” and Alex Garland’s “Annihiliation” all coming out in the next year.

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