The `Avatar` filmmaker was named as a potential candidate to work on the project, and he now confirms he has been talking with studio Sony about it. He said: "There`s a `Cleopatra` project in work, meaning that it’s been in development at Sony. And it`s a subject that`s always fascinated me. "So yeah, I`ve been talking to them about it but no decisions have been made. But it sounds hot, doesn`t it? I mean, Angelina Jolie and `Cleopatra`? To me, that`s like a slam dunk." The 56-year-old director also confirmed he would not be daunted to follow up Elizabeth Taylor`s `Cleopatra` because he has dealt with plenty of cynicism in the past. He told the New York Times: "You know, there were a lot of people betting against us on `Titanic` as well. That kind of stuff isn`t particularly daunting to me. The idea of 10-foot-tall blue people that were 100 per cent CG, it was Smurf Planet - plenty of reasons why `Avatar` wasn`t going to work either." Angelina has previously confirmed she would be involved in the project once she has seen a script and a director had been agreed. She said: "I think if we can get the story right and... a lot about her has not been covered. If we can do something original we will. But no director yet." The movie is set to shoot in 2011.