Hugh Jackman's musical number as the host 81st Academy Awards has impressed the folks at 20th Century Fox, as the studio has recruited him to star in its upcoming "The Greatest Showman on Earth" musical.

Jackman will slip into the role of American entertainer P.T. Barnum, who promoted celebrated hoaxes and founded the three-ring circus.

Variety says the film will also look at his relationship with singer Jenny Lind, a role which is apparently being written for Anne Hathaway. You may remember her joining Jackman in his excellent Oscar act.

Jenny Bicks, whose credits include "Men in Trees" and "Sex and the City," will write the script, and Fox is apparently talking to singer Mika to write music and lyrics.

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Ray Winstone is set to play Julius Caesar in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming rock 'n' roll musical about Cleopatra, according to MTV.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is already on board as the lead actress, with Hugh Jackman in final negotiations to star as Marc Antony.

Rock band Guided by Voices wrote the music, with James Greer penning the script for the film, which is reportedly budgeted at $30 million.

So what else did Soderbergh say about this extravagant project? “I’ve always wanted to do a musical. All the ones that were coming along just weren’t for me. I wanted to do a real rock n roll musical like ‘Tommy.'"

Well, that sounds interesting alright, and I'm eager to see how the whole thing will look like eventually. With Zeta-Jones in the lead, chances are good it'll be a feast for the eyes.

Soberbergh’s next film to open in theaters is the two-part project “Che,” which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. He also recently wrapped “The Informant” with Matt Damon.

Currently, Soderbergh is working on the low-budget “The Girlfriend Experience,” a film about prostitution told from the perspective of a call girl.

Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth are the latest to join MGM’s remake of Alan Parker’s 1980 musical “Fame."

Thomas Dekker, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle are also on board.

Kevin Tancharoen is directing the film, which focuses on young performers trying either to get in or survive the school year at the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in New York.

According to Variety, Dutton, Grammer, Mullally, Neuwirth and Debbie Allen play the instructors and supervisors in the movie, which will start shooting this week.

Grammer was last seen in "An American Carol;" Mullally is known for her role as Karen on "Will & Grace;" Neuwirth starred in "Frasier;" and Dutton recently appeared in "The Express."