Jackman drops out of Cleopatra film talks

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Australian film actor Hugh Jackman dropped out of talks to star in "Cleo," director Steven Soderbergh's upcoming 3-D, live-action musical, Variety.com said.

The $30 million film with a rock 'n' roll soundtrack is to co-star "Chicago" Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones as the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

The entertainment industry trade newspaper said Soderbergh wanted "Australia" and "X-Men" star Jackman to play her lover, the Roman general Marc Antony, however, the actor declined after giving the role some consideration.

Ray Winstone, a British actor whose film credits include "Beowulf" and the upcoming "Edge of Darkness," reportedly is in discussions to play Julius Caesar in Soderbergh's first movie musical.

Soderbergh and Zeta-Jones previously worked together on "Traffic."