‘Suicide Squad’s’ Margot Robbie is set to star in Queen of the Air, a period drama about trapeze artist Lillian Leitzel.
Superstar Margot Robbie is diversifying her CV with a period drama, in which she’ll finally be the queen we all know she is.
Well, a trapeze artist, but it’s pretty much the same thing.
Queen of the Air will be produced by Anrew Lazar, from a scipt by Cat Vasko.
The movie is is based on a book by Dean N. Jensen, which tells the true story of trapeze artist and strongwoman Lillian Leitzel, whose tragic love affair with Alfredo Codona was one for the ages.
Leitzel was born into a family of circus artists, raised by her grandparents in Germany. She performed with Barnum and Bailey (P.T. Barnum, incidentally, is also getting a biopic), and was famed for her one-armed planges that required her to dislocate her shoulder during every performance.
She was also quick-tempered and commanding, cursing and slapping the roustabouts.
The performer died tragically after a performance in Copenhagen, aged 39.
Here’s the summary of Jensen’s novel Queen of the Air:
“A true life Water for Elephants, Queen of the Air brings the circus world to life through the gorgeously written, true story of renowned trapeze artist and circus performer Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codona Brothers.
Leitzel was born into Dickensian circumstances, and became a princess and then a queen. She was not much bigger than a good size fairy, just four-foot-ten and less than 100 pounds. In the first part of the 20th century, she presided over a sawdust fiefdom of never-ending magic. She was the biggest star ever of the biggest circus ever, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth.”
Queen of the Air does not yet have a director or a release date.
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