MICHAEL DOUGLAS - MICHAEL DOUGLAS LINED UP FOR NEW LIBERACE BIOPIC

MICHAEL DOUGLAS LINED UP FOR NEW LIBERACE BIOPIC

Michael Douglas is set to play Liberace in a new biopic from Steven Soderbergh, it has been revealed.

The Basic Instinct star, who worked with Soderbergh in Traffic, is to play the late entertainer from a script penned by PS I Love You writer Richard LaGravanese, according to Variety.

Matt Damon, meanwhile, is in talks to play Scott Thorson, who sued Liberace for $113 million (£64.7 million) in palimony in 1982, saying he had been the pianist's companion for five years.

Liberace always denied that he was gay though he reportedly agreed an out-of-court settlement for $95,000 (£54,400) in 1986, before dying the following year due to complications from Aids.

While Soderbergh has confirmed Douglas' signing for the role, the project is likely to be years away from completion, as the director only recently completed production on The Informant, starring Damon.

The Girlfriend Experience, a low-budget effort which will be simultaneously released in cinemas and on DVD and cable, will follow.

Michael Douglas can next be seen romantic comedy The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, set for a 2009 release in the US.