Just when you thought that you knew Michael Douglas, Steven Soderbergh has confirmed that the actor will play popular musical performer Liberace in an upcoming film biography. Matt Damon has filled the role of Scott Thorsen, Liberace’s longtime assistant and boyfriend who outed Liberace in a 1982 palimony suit.
Liberace would certainly be bucking expectations. Douglas is typically more at home in thrillers, and Damon seems like he should be playing a parody of this role. Then again, we live in a post-Sean-Penn-as-”Milk” world in which anything is possible.
Soderbergh said the budget will allow filmmakers to re-stage segments of Liberace’s spectacular stage act, which often involved elaborate stunts such as flying or driving to his piano bench in a Rolls-Royce.
Soderbergh is quoted as saying: “We’ve already done some costume and wardrobe tests on Michael, and they’re very, very, very good.”
Picture that in your mind.
