Steven Soderbergh has been never less than adventurous over his career, and so there is something quite fitting about the director taking on the story of the popular and flamboyant performer Liberace for his final film before he steps away from the movie world and into a hiatus. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon have long been attached in the lead roles, and with the film gearing up to shoot this summer, Soderbergh has begun assembling his cast with three more names boarding the film.
Sources close to the project have confirmed with The Playlist that Rob Lowe, Cheyenne Jackson and Boyd Holbrook have joined "Behind The Candelabra." Penned by Richard LaGravenese (“Water for Elephants,” “The Fisher King”) and inspired by "Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace" by Liberace's lover Scott Thorson, the film will find Douglas taking the lead role with Damon co-starring as Thorson, the performer's secret lover with whom he engaged in a globetrotting romance. No word yet on Jackson's role, but Lowe plays a plastic surgeon and Holbrook will take the role of one of Liberace's young lovers. Lowe is locked for the film, with Jackson and Holbrook in negotiations. Their deals are expected to close soon.
While we all know Lowe from his countless film and television roles, Jackson and Holbrook are newer faces. Jackson might be best recognized for his stint on "Glee" or as Danny Baker in "30 Rock"; he also has a role in this summer's indie rom-com "Lola Versus." As for Holbrook, he most recently featured in History Channel's smash hit mini-series "Hatfields & McCoys" and has a role in next spring's "The Host" with Saorise Ronan. Dan Aykroyd and Debbie Reynolds round out the cast thus far.
"Behind The Candelabra" is backed by HBO Films with filming to begin soon.
