How's this for a Behind the Music?
Steven Soderbergh has begun developing a biopic of Liberace that he plans to direct with Michael Douglas as the ivory tickler, according to Variety ; Matt Damon is in talks as his litigious ex-lover.
With a screenplay by Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King, The Horse Whisperer), the film would focus on the legendary entertainer's flamboyant yet closeted life, including his showdown with onetime paramour Scot Thorson, who successfully sued for palimony shortly before Liberace died of AIDS in 1987.
Here's a peek at the day's other big deals:
• Universal has pacted with Sid and Marty Krofft to make a live-action feature film based on their trippy '70s kid show Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, about an on-the-lam sea monster who hangs out with two kids in their clubhouse. The Kroffts are in full comeback mode, having sold Sony the live-action rights to H.R. Pufnstuf, and Will Ferrell leading the big-screen Land of the Lost, coming next June.
• New Line Cinema has acquired the rights to the bestselling novel How to Be Single from Sex and the City writer-producer Liz Tuccillo about five women battling it out on the New York dating scene. The movie will be produced by Drew Barrymore's Flower Films but no word yet whether she will star.
• Fox TV Studios has begun production on Persons Unknown, the first TV offering from Oscar-winning writer Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects). The serial mystery centers around seven strangers who wake up in a desert town monitored by ubiquitous security cameras. McQuarrie will executive produce along with his wife, Heather. Shooting starts Oct. 27 in Mexico.
• VH1 has greenlighted an untitled reality series following soap-opera hunk Antonio Sabato Jr. on a quest to find love à la Bret Michaels. The erstwhile Melrose Place heartthrob will put contestants through a series of tests, like re-creating a steamy love scene or skydiving in a gown, in hopes of finding his partner. Guess it beats online dating.
• Audrina Patridge is becoming a Foxy lady, with a guest stint on the network's new sitcom Do Not Disturb, on Sept. 17, followed by an appearance three days later on MADtv.