At one point, there looked to be a rush to get the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra VII, on the big screen again. Big-name stars were all tied to projects, with Angelina Jolie, Zendaya, and Gal Gadot all poised to play the ruler who claimed the affections of both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.
However, since the flurry of announcements near the turn of the decade, very little has been announced since. All those intrigued by the premise of a dramatization of Cleopatra have only received a rather ill-conceived “documentary” drama on Netflix by way of Queen Cleopatra. Still, all is not lost just yet.
One in the Works, One Rumoured, One Cancelled
Of the three Cleopatra projects that were in the works, Angelina Jolie’s has definitely been scrapped. Reports in the middle of last year relayed that the Brian Helgeland-made movie would be a political thriller with elements of romance and assassination attempts.
The film that looks the most likely to make it to the big screen is the one featuring Gal Gadot. She has long had an affinity for the historical icon, as TD quotes, but scheduling conflicts have held her back from donning the headdress. Since the Cleopatra movie was announced in 2020, Gadot has featured in eight films with three now in post-production.
However, there has been movement. It’s reportedly in active development under Atlas Entertainment and Universal Pictures with Morocco chosen to be its filming location, per the relayed report from CBR. This puts Gadot’s Cleopatra as the clear frontrunner of the bunch.
Zendaya’s project is a rumored re-up with Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. He’s been working on a surprise addition to his Dune duology, Dune Messiah, which will hit cinemas at the end of 2026 if all goes to plan. After that, the rumors suggest that he’ll cast Zendaya as Cleopatra and work in a role for Timothée Chalamet.
Why All the Fuss for Cleopatra?
She may have been the last pharaoh of Egypt to mark the end of the end of the Macedonian-originated Ptolemaic dynasty, but she’s also one of the most famous. Her story is one of sibling rivalry, winning the adoration of the masses, and coaxing Julius Caesar into exacting her will amidst the unrest in her joint-led kingdom.
It’s a captivating story, and one that Hollywood has brought to the big screen before. However, 1963’s Cleopatra doesn’t have the finest legacy. While praised as an epic of its day and one that topped the box office charts domestically and worldwide, production hell ensured that Elizabeth Taylor’s outing would be seen as a bust.
Cleopatra has since mostly departed the big screen while living on as a legend in other more modern corners of entertainment. She’s most prominent as the centerpiece of the long-running Cleopatra slots series that’s arrived at the NJ online casino. Always among the Top Picks list, the 2012 endures as a hit slot just as interest in the pharaoh does.
In other corners of gaming, developers can’t help but infuse the mystique of Cleopatra when the opportunity arises. The Civilization series is a long-term admirer of her, often including Cleopatra as a faction leader. Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome, naturally, included Cleopatra, and the Assassin’s Creed series has featured her twice.
There’s still demand across entertainment and pop culture to see Cleopatra portrayed and her intriguing story told well on the big screen. Gadot’s rendition looks to be the first to the plate with late 2026 or 2027 likely the target with production now underway.