While most people think he rather failed with Battle: Los Angeles, director Jonathan Liebesman has Clash of The Titans 2 coming up (also known by its proper title, Wrath Of The Titans), and so while his name still has a little weight in Hollywood, he’s trying to set up another major movie, this time about legendary Roman emperor, Julius Caesar.
It doesn’t appear the movie will be a full look at the entirety of Caesar’s life (which would make a long movie, as he fitted a lot in, from invading Britain and Gaul to getting assassinated), as Deadline says the pitch for the film from Liebesman and writer Chris Boal takes, ‘a Patton-like approach that covers the time in which Caesar was sent to Spain on a detail no one else wanted. There, he built the 10th Legion fighting force that would eventually march on Rome, overrun the forces of his close friend-turned-rival Pompey, and establish Caesar as the unrivaled ruler of the empire.’
Warner Bros. is in the process of acquiring the pitch, but it looks as if getting this made will rely on the script, and finding a big enough name for the lead role (Liebesman even choregraphed some of the action sequences for the pitch, to entice the studio further). Indeed it appears they’re already thinking about franchise potential, as Deadline says the film would end with Caesar’s coronation, leaving open room for other films about his later life. Indeed, Chris Boal already documented the bloody aftermath of Caesars assassination (which saw a series of civil wars before the establishment of the Roman Empire proper) in the play 23 Knives.
So who’s thinking Liebesman is already wondering if he can shove Titans star Sam Worthington into Caesar’s shoes?