'Liberace' Biopic: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon To Star In 'Behind The Candelabra'

Two of the top actors of our time are set to tell the story of one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century.

HBO Films has acquired the long-gestating, Stephen Soderbergh-directed biopic of Liberace, which will feature Michael Douglas as the iconic musician and Matt Damon as his younger lover, Scott Thorson.

The film, first announced in 2008, will be titled "Behind the Candelabra" and start production next summer; it was previously scheduled to shoot this past spring.

"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," Soderbergh said in a statement. "HBO's fearless approach to original programming and their unparalleled ability to pull in viewers make them the perfect fit for us. Apart from my hair growing back, I couldn't be happier."

Damon spoke this past winter about playing lover to Douglas, telling People Magazine, "I kind of think of it in algebra terms, back to my high-school days. It's like the transitive property - by kissing Michael Douglas, I am making out with Catherine [Zeta-Jones, Douglas' wife]."

Liberace long denied that he was gay, though tabloids regularly reported on his personal life. One of music's biggest stars in the 50s and 60s, he lived a flamboyant and rich lifestyle until he passed away in 1987 of AIDS.

Damon is a frequent collaborator with Soderbergh; he worked with him on the "Oceans" movies, and just starred in his viral thriller, "Contagion."

Comments

[Brad Hill]

02:57 PM on 10/15/2011

Although I admire Liberace as a showman, and am glad there will be a movie celebrating his achievements, I predict this thing will sink like a stone in the market. The Damon/Douglas brand appeal won't extend to this project. There'll be a curiosity factor, but beyond that it's too much of a stretch. I'll see it, though!

[standish]

05:43 AM on 10/15/2011

Matt Damon one of the "top actors of our time?" I don't think so.

[Gronkie]

12:35 AM on 10/14/2011

Near the end of his life I saw Liberace on the Phil Donahue show and he looked terrible. My Dad walked into the room, and said "What's with Liberace, he looks like he has AIDS!" And this was when AIDS wasn't the best known thing out there yet. Phil announced that "Lee" had an announcement to make, and Liberace went on to say that he was celebrating the 50th anniversary of losing his virginity. He knew he was close to death, and yet he was still trying to convince the world that he was heterosexual. He died only a few weeks later.

[Marla Thurman]

10:49 PM on 10/13/2011

Oh. Matt, put your hair back on!

[PuertoRicanprincess]

10:02 AM on 10/13/2011

not really

[sf1000000]

09:42 PM on 10/12/2011

I saw Liberace once when I was about 8 yrs old. The whole room loved him everyone loved this man..and as he got older and more well OVER the rainbow..the more out he bacame with out every saying a peep that he was gay..I wish he had..perhaps he would have found out just how much he was loved. After he died I knew a couple of people that knew him personally and spoke of his kindness and how he was always up beat and nice to be around..He was in phrase a professional showman to the very end..I hope that this film keeps that in mind rather than the tabloid crap..I studied classical piano and every year I now have a player Piano that plays recordings with Libarace playing white Christmas..and other pieces...sometimes I just sit and cry for a life cut short by this plague called AIDS..Rest in Peace Lee...and thank you for all the good you left behind..

[JonB2057]

08:25 PM on 10/12/2011

N00000000!!!!!!!!!

[Prince Toddy English]

06:18 PM on 10/12/2011

Okay, this might be hot if Leonardo Dicaprio played Liberace.

[caveredecorator]

02:29 PM on 10/12/2011

cant wait to see this movie.. has FOCUS ON THE FAMILY and FRED PHELPS started boycotting it yet?

[karen lyons kalmenson]

11:04 AM on 10/12/2011

ben affleck will never be the same;-D

[furby6]

10:08 AM on 10/12/2011

Michael Douglas playing a gay man? This will be good. No doubt he can do it but it will be a bit of a mind bender.

[WHTrout]

11:26 AM on 10/12/2011

He's done it before -- quite well -- on "Will & Grace."

[furby6]

12:01 PM on 10/12/2011

I stand corrected. If that's all I missed my watching PBS, I can live with that :)

[RJVegas]

03:09 PM on 10/12/2011

AND, he was funny!

[orangekitty]

09:31 AM on 10/12/2011

2 words: Randy Quaid

[furby6]

10:06 AM on 10/12/2011

Yep, I can see him doing Liberace.

[Soulmentor]

07:01 PM on 10/14/2011

I can't.

[cungar]

12:01 PM on 10/12/2011

What's up with ol' Randy? Last I heard he was holed up in Vancouver avoiding extradition.

[Akizme72]

09:30 AM on 10/12/2011

It has been a long time since a movie has enticed me so little. That cast does nothing for me.at.all.

[WHTrout]

11:34 AM on 10/12/2011

And yet... you purposely clicked on and read an article that you're not interested in and felt compelled to regale us with your irrelevant opinion about something you're not interested in. Perhaps you should be wasting your time on Farmville instead.

[Akizme72]

03:04 PM on 10/12/2011

I clicked on it because I did NOT know what the article was about simply from reading the headline.

So I read the article and came to the conclusion I stated in my comment.

Since when is it forbidden to express a completely personal opinion? At this rate I can say the same about your answer to me (what the heck did you feel compelled to berate and ridicule and belittle me on a public forum? What does it mean to you that I am not interested in this movie?).

[chefacree]

09:55 AM on 10/12/2011

It's art stupid. Put your homophobia away.

[wanglog]

07:48 AM on 10/12/2011

well, i for one look forward to this pic. michael douglas, matt damon and stephen soderbergh rarely disappoint. and obviously, the film will have some terrific piano music as soundtrack. i'm psyched!