Luhrmann Heeds Our Advice, Hires Jackman

I would just like to point out that, when we reported last week on Russell Crowe's departure from Baz Luhrmann's untitled Aussie epic (I'm actually starting to sort of like that title -- Aussie Epic has a certain ring to it, don't you think?), I floated the idea that, if the rumored casting of Heath Ledger didn't work out (it didn't), Luhrmann ought to track down Hugh Jackman for the part. And now we have irrefutable proof that the director reads Cinematical: Variety revealed this morning that Jackman has, indeed, been signed to replace Crowe. (What's that? Jackman's the only Aussie left with a high profile and no one needs Cinematical to know that? Pish tosh. Luhrmann was clearly in the casting wilderness until, idly searching for his own name on Google, he stumbled upon that post.)

Since I'm in favor of Jackman being cast in pretty much anything, I'm on board with this change. It does, however, significantly shift one's image of what the movie will look like -- even when he's scruffy or mutated, Jackman's baggage often gives him an air of dignity and class, as opposed to the rugged toughness we tend to associate with Crowe. If this sucker ever gets made, it'll be really interesting to see how it turns out.