Michael Douglas and Matt Damon to Star in Liberace Film

Academy Award–winning actor Michael Douglas will be adding a new memorable character to his film résumé: legendary entertainer and gay icon Liberace. Several reports announced that Douglas would be playing the lead role of the piano man in a biopic being helmed by Traffic director Steven Soderbergh. The director has confirmed that Matt Damon, whom he last directed in The Informant! will play the role of Liberace's longtime lover Scott Thorson.
The director is already pleased with preproduction progress. "We've already done some costume and wardrobe tests on Michael, and they're very, very, very good." Soderbergh raved to a French newspaper. "I swear to you, Michael amazed me. He crushed it."

The legendary performer known as "Mr. Showmanship" and "Glitter Man" was a staple of early television variety shows before holding court as a Vegas headliner until his death from AIDS in 1987. At the pinnacle of his success, Liberace was purported to take in more profit than both Elvis and the Beatles.
Scott Thorson outed the entertainer in a 1982 palimony suit that sought $113 million. Damon "accepted the challenge" of portraying Liberace’s assistant and boyfriend, Soderbergh said. "But I have to say I'd already convinced him to gain 30 pounds for The Informant!"

Soderbergh promised the biopic could faithfully re-create the memorable costumes and performances of the entertainer who often claimed, "I don't give concerts, I put on a show."

Tell us: Can you picture Michael Douglas pulling off the legendary Liberace?

Image courtesy of Getty