Steven Soderbergh’s project about the life of OTT musician **Liberace **has been in development for ages now. But the trajectory of the film has just taken an unexpected direction, with US cable channel spin-off HBO Films stepping up to make it, retaining stars Matt Damon and Michael Douglas.
Richard LaGravenese is behind the script, which is now called Behind the Candelabra. The plot, as it has been all along, will chronicle the relationship between the entertainer (Douglas) and his younger live-in lover Scott Thorson (Damon).
"This is a story that's going to surprise a lot of people," HBO Films president Len Amato said in a statement picked up by The Hollywood Reporter. "It's funny, heartbreaking and always fascinating, and we are delighted that Jerry (Weintraub) and Steven brought the film to HBO. With Steven at the helm, directing such accomplished actors as Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this is a dream project for us."
It might seem surprising for a film that had long been planned as a cinematic release to suddenly make the move to TV, but Soderbergh seems happy: “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 director plans to kick off shooting next July in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.