Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton Book 'Furious Love' Optioned For Martin Scorcese

By far the most famous actress of the 20th century, Elizabeth Taylor's talent and, perhaps even more significantly, her tumultuous off-screen love life helped invent the modern celebrity and ignite the vast interest in their personal lives. Now, having passed away in March, the woman who acted in so many love stories will have her own legendary romance story told on the big screen.

"Furious Love," the Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger-penned book about Taylor's great affair and two marriages to actor Richard Burton, is being optioned by Paramount Pictures as a directing vehicle for Martin Scorcese, Deadline reports.

Taylor was married eight times, twice to Burton, with both ending in divorce. The pair met while filming the great disaster "Cleopatra," and, with both being married at the time, began an affair that captured the public's imagination. Though they didn't remarry a third time, they remained each other's greatest loves.

Deadline's report confirms that Burton's estate is on board with the film, making resources and video available, while Paramount hopes to get the same thumbs up from Taylor's family.

Scorcese last tackled Hollywood royalty with his 2004 Howard Hughes biopic, "The Aviator," and is scheduled to helm a Frank Sinatra biopic to be released in 2013. He's also committed to directing "Silence," with Daniel Day Lewis, so it's unclear where this film fits into his schedule.

As for casting, it's far too early to tell now, but one might envision this pairing: Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorcese's favorite collaborator over the past decade or so, and Angelina Jolie, who is so often compared to Taylor and is playing her Cleopatra role in David Fincher's upcoming big screen remake.

For more, click over to Deadline.

Comments

[MizMollyD]

12:32 PM on 06/08/2011

Russell Crowe and Katie Holmes

[gala1]

09:44 PM on 06/05/2011

These stars were iconic because they both were utterly, uniquely charismatic.

Dumb move to mess with some made to market star pretending to be a historic one.
I have way too much respect for these people's talent to want to pry into some voyeuristic view of ther private lives.
It makes just as much sense to put on a puppet show of their lives as it would be to do this. I can't imagine why the estate went along with this.

Much as I admire Scorcese, this is more than a bit creepy.

[greenlass]

05:19 PM on 06/05/2011

Got to be two actors with a whole lot of soul, and some serious chops.
I'd be happy to forgo seeing something like this, and instead stay home and watch "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf". Brilliant script, brilliant acting (and directing.) Encompassing all the passion these two had. A grim tale in many respects, but all the more wondrous for the depths plumbed, and the hard-earned redemption at the end.

[ahoyhoy]

11:41 AM on 06/05/2011

I think it has to be an unknown actress for Liz. I want to see Liz' story without being distracted by the celebrity of the actress playing her.
Also, it needs to be an actress WILLING to beef up and be the full voluptuous woman that Liz was during her time with Burton. If they make Liz Taylor scrawny for this, I will boycott for SURE.

[hellotiki]

08:50 PM on 06/05/2011

Danny DeVito and Paris Hilton.

[gala1]

09:35 PM on 06/05/2011

Ernie and Bert

[ejais]

03:56 AM on 06/05/2011

michael sheen and janine turner

[doglove]

12:04 AM on 06/05/2011

Alec Baldwin - Susan Sarandon

[doglove]

11:38 PM on 06/04/2011

Christina Hendricks, Russell Crowe

[DallasDon]

11:12 PM on 06/04/2011

The world lost a rare gem when we lost Elizabeth Taylor; We aren't likely to see someone like her for a long time, unfortunately.

A true beauty, strong advocate for those needing a voice and a gracious benefactor to humanity.

[Fogcatcher]

11:22 PM on 06/04/2011

Well said....

[fresh the movie]

09:33 PM on 06/04/2011

i will play burton, you play her

[DJE12857]

06:21 PM on 06/04/2011

Got to be Russell Crowe as Burton.

[doglove]

11:32 PM on 06/04/2011

Very good suggestion, certainly not DiCaprio.

[ahoyhoy]

11:44 AM on 06/05/2011

Totally right. I usually don't care for his movies, but I agree RC is extremely talented and could DISAPPEAR into this role for sure. Excellent choice. Leo doesn't have the scary gravitas Burton had.

[rootgrassy]

05:56 PM on 06/04/2011

AngelinaJ olie to play Taylor?--NO WAY. She cannot play anger--she makes these comical cartoon character faces whenever she's called on to play extreme anger--so inauthentic. If you've read this book (I have) you know Taylor and Burton really went at it and fought a lot--Taylor said they enjoyed fighting, actually. I think Jude Law would be a really good Burton--you need a real Shakespearean actor in that part. And as for Taylor, if Megan Fox could muster the required emotions needed and put on about 30 pounds, she looks the part more than any actress out there, and has other qualities Taylor posessed such as a propensity for speaking her mind in public a decicidely non-PC manner. But who knows if she has the talent--could be lurking in there waiting for a juicy role to release it, but who knows.

[doglove]

11:34 PM on 06/04/2011

Did you ever see "Girl Interrupted"? I'm guessing not if you say AJ can't play anger.

DiCaprio would be a terrible Richard

[rootgrassy]

12:08 PM on 06/06/2011

I don't think so, however I've seen some of her other work since then--aren't you supposd to improve over the years? She hasnt in that regard. She clenches her teeth together and bares them in this stereotypical snarl thats really inauthentic. There is no real fire behind it.

[greenwren]

05:13 PM on 06/04/2011

DiCaprio and Jolie? No and no. No reflection on their talents, but they just aren't good fits. Plus, viewers would always be aware they were watching DiCaprio and Jolie pretending to be Burton and Taylor.

I'm afraid this calls for lesser-known, better-trained, brilliant actors of the British/Irish variety. I have no idea who. I just know they exist.

[hotlava]

02:51 PM on 06/04/2011

As an ET fan, I have to put in a few. Of those actors mentioned, I think Catherine Zeta-Jones would be the best choice. She has the voluptuousness, the beauty, and acting versatility. She'd need to add the Taylor brittleness to her voice, though.

For Burton, Russel Crowe is the only choice. The actors must be in their 30s, and Crowe is a great actor, intense, brooding, and has the stature and presence of Burton. (IF he could lose a chunk of weight.)

[rootgrassy]

05:57 PM on 06/04/2011

Zeta Jones is not nearly stunning enough--Talyor takes your breath away, not so Zeta Jones

[doglove]

11:34 PM on 06/04/2011

x2

[FLDeziner]

02:21 PM on 06/04/2011

Ewan McGregor

[FLDeziner]

02:25 PM on 06/04/2011

Ewan McGregor

[FLDeziner]

02:27 PM on 06/04/2011

[lioness39]

02:18 PM on 06/04/2011

I can't imagine any actors or actresses of today up to playing those two magical creatures.