Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Cleopatra in 1963 is one of the most important films of all time. There has long been talk about a reboot of the historical picture, with rumors suggesting that Gal Gadot could be set to star in the title role. Still, nothing has been officially confirmed, and fans are waiting for more news about the movie.
It could be argued that the story of Cleopatra would be better suited to television, especially in the age of high-budget epics. It would give the writers a chance to dive into much more detail about the legendary ancient ruler and could be much more effective than a movie.
Talk of New Cleopatra Picture
Many classic movies from yesteryear have undergone the remake treatment over the last few decades, and it’s no surprise that studios are interested in rebooting Cleopatra. After they worked together on Wonder Woman, there were reports that Patty Jenkins would be directing a new Cleopatra picture with Gadot in the starring role. There has been no announcement about the production yet, though, and the 37-year-old is set to star in Heart of Stone and Snow White in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
One of the reasons why a new Cleopatra has been touted has been its franchise potential in the modern age. Ancient Egypt is one of the most popular themes for movies and games, with other standout offerings on the silver screen including The Mummy franchise and Gods of Egypt.
The gaming industry highlights how a new film could get the attention of viewers through modern platforms. On mobile, there are titles like Cleopatra’s Jewels and Cleopatra Fortune. In the gambling market, Cleopatra is one of the top Vegas online casino games. It can be found among many other titles based on ancient Egypt, such as Egyptian Gold. This range of games shows how a new picture would have a lot of marketing avenues.
Epic Television Series are Popular
Even though it appears a new Cleopatra film could be going ahead, there is a strong argument to suggest that a television series could be even more successful. In the modern age of streaming, a strong and well-made television offering could be as successful as a movie. This is especially true when thinking about merchandise and spinoff potential, with Game of Thrones being a prime example.
Nowadays, television series have enormous budgets and can often achieve so much more than movies can. Over several episodes, they can tell more detailed stories and immerse viewers fully in a situation. Cleopatra’s story is so rich and comprehensive, that even a three-hour-long movie can’t do it justice.
Amazon Prime has already splashed out huge amounts of cash on series, having recently spent $715 million on The Rings of Power. This is a much higher budget than most movies have, underlining the might that streaming services now have.
If a Cleopatra reboot doesn’t come to fruition on screen, it would be great to see one of the leading streaming services picking it up. A detailed series that takes part over several seasons could teach people a lot about the iconic ruler and give them a true sense of her life.
