James Cameron In Talks To Direct 'Cleopatra' With Angelina Jolie

NEW YORK (CBS) - James Cameron may direct Angelina Jolie in a mega-budget 3-D version of "Cleopatra."

The "Avatar" director told the New York Times that he is exploring the idea with Sony Pictures Entertainment and said casting Jolie as the Egyptian queen would be a "slam dunk."

PICTURES: Angelina Jolie
PICTURES: James Cameron

"It's a subject that's always fascinated me," the Oscar-winning director said. "Whether I wind up doing it or not, I think it's going to be a great project."

According to Deadline, the 3-D film would be an adaptation of Stacy Schiff's book "Cleopatra: A Life" and "is being developed for and with Jolie".

Jolie, who is currently filming her directorial debut in Hungary, told reporters at the Los Angeles "Salt" premiere in July that she "would be honored" to play the Queen of the Nile.

"I haven't done a historical epic of that nature and she's always been fascinating to me because I feel like, as much of her story has been done big, it's never been done accurately, " she said according to Deadline. "I feel there's a lot that has been unexplored about her. "

And the execs at Sony are just as enthusiastic. Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair, told Deadline that Jolie is a "real star who can open a movie by herself" and "she knows she was born to play this part" because it's the "greatest female heroine" who ever lived.

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