Hugh Jackman Won't Sing For Soderbergh's 'CLEO'

Variety is reporting that Hugh Jackman has removed himself from discussions to star with Catherine Zeta-Jones in "CLEO," a 3-D live action musical which Steven Soderbergh will direct as his next project. There had been buzz for the last number of weeks regarding Jackman joining the film.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed last month that Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual Academy Awards.

Previous hosts have usually been TV or film comedians including Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, John Stewart, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres and others.

Hugh Jackman was recently voted People's Sexiest Man of 2008.

In 2000, he was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men. Jackman later reprised his role in 2003's X2: X-Men United, and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. Jackman starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Jackman also starred in 2001 action/drama Swordfish, along with John Travolta, and Halle Berry.

Jackman sang the role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel in a special concert performance at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City in 2002. In 2004 he played the title role of vampire hunter Gabriel Van Helsing in Van Helsing. In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz. He hosted the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

In 2005 after his award-winning role in The Boy from Oz, he jumped into Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi experience The Fountain. Then Jackman filmed The Prestige directed by Christopher Nolan and also starring Christian Bale.

In 2007, Jackman produced and guest starred in the unsuccessful television drama Viva Laughlin. Jackman is also preparing a number of movies which he will both produce and star in, including Wolverine and a remake of Carousel in which he will play Billy Bigelow, he can currently be seen in the film, Australia.

Photo by Linda Lenzi