Michael Douglas to Play Liberace in New Biopic

HBO has announced that Michael Douglas and Matt Damon will star in Behind the Candelabra, a biopic being directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film will focus on the relationship between flamboyant musician Liberace (Douglas) and his younger live-in lover, Scott Thorson (Damon).

One thing you can say about Soderbergh: He likes to keep his projects varied, if not his casts. Douglas previously worked with the director in Traffic, and Matt Damon seems to be replacing George Clooney as Soderbergh’s go-to guy (having worked with him most recently in Contagion).

Behind the Candelabra is from a script by Water for Elephants writer Richard LaGravenese. Production is due to start summer 2012 in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.

(via EW.com)