Douglas and Matt Damon to star as lovers in HBO Liberace biopic
HBO announced Tuesday that Michael Douglas will take on the role of famous and flamboyant pianist Liberace in the upcoming film, “Behind the Candelabra.” Matt Damon is also set to star in the film, as Scott Thorson, Liberace’s younger, live-in lover.
“Behind the Candelabra” is based on Thorson’s book about his relationship with Liberace. In a press release, HBO Films announced its acquisition of the film. After being in development for years, the biopic to be directed by Steven Soderbergh is finally on the move. Production is set to begin next summer.
Previous HBO Films productions such as “Temple Grandin” and “You Don’t Know Jack” have received plenty of global recognition. Soderbergh says HBO is a great fit for this film because, “From the inception of this project, we’ve had two priorities: getting it right creatively, and getting as many people as possible to see it.”
The project will be the first time the actors will work together, though both have had experience with Soderbergh. The filmmaker directed Douglas in “Traffic,” and has teamed up with Damon on many films including the “Oceans” series, “The Informant!” and “Contagion.”
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