Baz Luhrmann's Next Film: 'The Great Gatsby'
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F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, long considered one of the greatest of American novels, has never had a definitive big-screen treatment. Neither the 1949 Alan Ladd/Betty Field version nor the 1974 Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version is particularly well regarded, and to even attempt an adaptation of such a beloved classic is fraught with peril.Naturally, that means Baz Luhrmann wants to take a stab at it. Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily is reporting "exclusive" inside information that Luhrmann -- whose Australia is currently struggling to make back its bloated budget -- will make The Great Gatsby for Twentieth Century Fox as his next project. Finke says the Aussie director is looking for cast members now.
I love this book and would love to see a film version that captures it -- but honestly, I don't see Baz Luhrmann doing that. His loose, frenetic, slapsticky style (which is great in the right context, like Moulin Rouge) is all wrong for Gatsby. Will he restrain himself? Or will he turn it into a Baz Luhrmann story?
Consider also that The Great Gatsby, set in the Roaring '20s, is a quintessential American story. Assuming he keeps the Long Island setting (and woe betide him if he doesn't), it would be Luhrmann's first film to take place in a real, non-stylized United States. Romeo + Juliet seems to have been set in Miami, but it was a whacked-out version of it. Part of the magic of Gatsby is that it captures the flavor of a real era in American history (which wasn't history yet when it was written, of course). I hope Luhrmann can stay true to that.
For fans of the book, who do you think should play Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby? Is the whole thing a terrible idea, or can a proper film version be done?










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-18-2008 @ 6:06PM
Gary said...
Isn't Vincent Chase playing Gatsby?
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1-27-2009 @ 2:43PM
Martin Scorcese said...
No, vince is playing Nick Carroway. ;-)
12-18-2008 @ 6:43PM
Clark Parker said...
I think this is a fantastic pairing. I disagree that his style would not work well in Gatsby's world, in fact, I don't think any version, that little TV adaptation with Paul Rudd included, came anywhere near the sparkling, decadent world that Fitzgerald describes... Besides, he created a fictional Long Island too, East and West Egg do not exist and the stark contrast of new rich and old aristocrats across the water was as much a grand stage as anything Luhrmann has attempted.
On top of this, he seems to get it... The previous versions are little more then period pieces about a Murder/Suicide. Luhrmann seems he wants to dig deeper into the underlying metaphors about greed and decadence and the dying American dream. Those are what made the novel great, not the plausible 20's setting.
Besides, the man has flair and Gatsby was about nothing, if it wasn't flair (that and Daisy of course). His over-the-top lavish parties are going to look amazing through Baz's lens. It doesn't have to look like Moulin Rouge!, It doesn't have to look like Romero + Juliet... Both are part of the Red Curtain thing he was doing anyhow. Australia (Though I admit, I've not seen it yet) doesn't look like those films so there is no reason to believe Baz's Long Island would look like anything other then a dazzling, larger then life, opulent representation of America that Fitzgerald intended.
But oh the music, the clothing, the bright lights... I can think of few directors who could bring the Jazz Age with such harmony to the themes that Fitzgerald intended.
I see this working out VERY well.
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12-18-2008 @ 6:52PM
Clark Parker said...
I hope you'll forgive my redundancy in the last few lines there... I got a little excited.
I wonder whom he will cast... Does he go age appropriate or does he work with those he knows? I could see Leo and Ewan both finding very comfortable roles within this story. Ewan has Gatsby's smile... That is for sure, even if he is a bit old and Leo has the quiet calm that Nick exudes but there are so many other talented young men, I hate to land on such obvious choices so quickly. And there even more starlets that would look fantastic with a 20's bob and string of pearls.
This just sounds like one excellent idea.
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12-18-2008 @ 7:02PM
Justin said...
I'd be excited to see how this works out. After reading it in high school we got to see the Rudd version, I remember not really connecting with whoever did Gatsby in that version.
For casting, the most I've got right now is Casey Affleck for Nick. Maybe Rachel McAdams as Daisy? I can't settle on a Gatsby yet.
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12-18-2008 @ 7:34PM
Clark Parker said...
Good suggestions, Justin. McAdams came to mind when I was thinking of women who would suit that 20's look and frankly, I think Casey Affleck is a fantastic choice for Nick.
I also think that Zooey Deschanel would make a great Jordan, her sass and attitude seem pitch perfect for the role.
Bare with me for a second, but what about Josh Hartnett as Gatsby? He has really grown on me lately and he has a certain standoffish quality to him and could probably balance both the mysterious and nervous qualities that make up Gatsby's duality. And I keep thinking about how great he looked in Sin City, with that slick combed hair.
12-18-2008 @ 7:15PM
techstar25 said...
I'm sure he'll the same care and respect for the source material as he did with Romeo and Juliet, and by that I mean none. In fact he'll probably show utter contempt for the source material by butchering it endlessly.
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12-18-2008 @ 7:19PM
Mr_A said...
Mark Ruffalo as Nick.
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12-18-2008 @ 8:27PM
Julie said...
I'm sorry, but I don't see Baz Lurman as pulling this off. I was devastated of the mishmash mess that was Australia, and I had high hopes for that film. His frenetic style, strange lighting, unable to decide if he was doing comedy or drama. It worked in Moulin Rouge, it didn't work in Australia. I don't think I'd care for his vision of the Great Gatsby. I'll keep my Robert Redford version thank you.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:04PM
Clark Parker said...
Isn't though, that exactly what made fascinating characters out of these wholly shallow people? You didn't know if you should laugh or cringe. You are intrigued and repulsed by them; their awkward human interaction played off of their slick social lives in ways that were both funny and dramatic.
And I cannot imagine a better place for strange lighting then in a young America obsessed with the sparkle and glow of New York, Fitzgerald use light constantly a major theme in the novel and Gatsby himself was enraptured by the green glow haunting him from across the bay.
12-20-2008 @ 3:47AM
HoopersX said...
Now E and Ari really will be fired. Vince is gonna be pissed.
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12-19-2008 @ 12:34AM
stevenh said...
that kinda sucks. luhrman is ass cheeks.
i recently read the book, and i pictured mcadams as well. brad pitt might make a good gatsby, i only thought that because i was looking at the trailer and saw redford played him in the 70's version, so age wise, and looks wise, that makes sense to me.
as far as nick goes, i think casey affleck works.
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12-19-2008 @ 12:36AM
stevenh said...
but ya originally i thought ruffallo as well creepy.
but as far as daisy goes, im clueless.
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12-19-2008 @ 5:04AM
Eric said...
I've been wanting to see a great adaptation of The Great Gatsby on film since I first read the book a few years back and it became one of my favorites. The Redford version worked in some parts but failed in others. As in the only part that worked was Robert Redford as Gatsby. As for the casting, one person can play Gatsby and since he is the new Redford that has to be Brad Pitt as Jay Gatsby. There could be others but when you think of Gatsby and what he represents, Pitt is perfect for the role. But then so would Mark Wahlberg or Matt Damon, but first choice is Pitt. McAdams would make a good Daisy, but then again a lot of actors could, it's too early to tell for that role. What about Ryan Gosling as Nick? And Hugh Jackman as Tom?
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12-19-2008 @ 9:32AM
Lis said...
I am not sold on McAdams, Daisy's voice is a very important part of the novel's description of her and it has to be distinctive... I've often thought about this, and I have yet to figure out who would be right... I agree with Casey Affleck as Nick, and I think Damon as Gatsby would be great. Also the two of them in another movie together would be quite nice to watch. I'm against casting the entire thing with veteran Luhrmann people because almost none of them are American and it's often difficult to get an authentic American accent out of Ewen... and if anything needs an authentic accent it's this movie.
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12-19-2008 @ 10:08AM
misterterner said...
I think Paul Bettany could surprise a lot of people as Gatsby. I like the notion of Casey Afflek as Nick. Maggie Gyllenhaal has the right look for Daisy and Matt Damon as her husband. There also needs to be a scene stealing cameo by Dustin Hoffman as Meyer the Jewish mobster.
I think it would be great to have this American calssic done right but Luhrmann is not the guy to do it.
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12-19-2008 @ 11:09AM
dadblasted said...
a bleached blonde Keira Knightley for Daisy. Seems a natural...cool...beautiful and a natural lure for Gatsby. Suggestions of Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett all good ones. Shouldn't cast too many non-Americans in such an essentially American story.
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12-19-2008 @ 12:53PM
caligari said...
Simon Baker as Gatsby.
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12-19-2008 @ 8:24PM
Lis said...
caligari, you are so so correct. Simon Baker would be PERFECT!
12-20-2008 @ 5:07AM
SlimPickens said...
Robert Evans at one point wanted to produce a big screen adaption of The Great Gatsby...fearing ruining a classic, Robert Towne handed him a little screenplay called "Chinatown" instead.
That being said...I think Polanski would be the best person to do Gatsby.
But I don't think very many people would agree with me.
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