Director Baz Luhrmann (Australia, Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet) recently sat down for an interview with the Hollywood Reporter and opened up on all sorts of stuff — including the fact that he has acquired the rights to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and feels that now is the perfect time for this "parable for economic disaster." Here's more:
Luhrmann sees the pre-Depression story as a wake-up call as the economy comes crashing down and another Gilded Age, as he sees it, comes to an end.
"If you wanted to show a mirror to people that says, 'You've been drunk on money,' they're not going to want to see it. But if you reflected that mirror on another time they'd be willing to."
He added, "People will need an explanation of where we are and where we've been, and The Great Gatsby can provide that explanation."
I'm a fan of Luhrmann's so I can't wait to see what he does with this story. It seems like he might consider Nicole Kidman for the role of Daisy Buchanan, but I wonder if there are other actresses who could do well with the part. Which actors could you see in some of the other roles, like Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Tom Buchanan? And do you think this classic is in good hands with Luhrmann?
Quai D'Orsay
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Kenneth Jay Lane
I'm one of the people who actually enjoyed the 1974 Great Gatsby, so I don't really think it need to be done again. I can't imagine a better Gatsby than Robert Redford!
1Oh please, not Nicole Kidman in another role just like the last 2 she's played in Baz's films! While I loved Moulin Rouge, I'm still trying to get rid of the bad taste Australia left in my mouth. Why does he always cast her in these roles?? I think he should could go with someone new.
2If he casts that old hag Nicole Kidman as Daisy I will boycott.
3I think James Franco might be a good Jay Gatsby.
4I like Baz, and I love pretty much anything he does. Australia definitely was not my favorite. I do love Nicole Kidman, but I would kinda of appreciate seeing another actress play Daisy Buchanan.
I am definitely excited to hear more about this.
5I've still never read the novel, and I also still haven't seen Australia, though I really want to.
6I enjoy Baz, but I don't want Nicole in the film...she'll tank it easily. I used to be a fan, but it seems she has really lost it, and hasn't had a hit or even an outright good movie since The Hours.
I'm excited about the Danish Girl, but Baz at least needs fresh blood. No more beige, boring actresses...cast somebody electric!
A book that's less than 200 pages is (most times) perfect for film. I've never seen the 1974 version, but I did just finish reading the book and to be honest I'll probably not go see this.
I usually loathe films from books because the actors cast never live up to my ideas of who and what they should be like.
Either way, if you have not already, read this book. It's short but great.
7This movie was made brilliantly in 1974. There's absolutely no need to remake it. That said, I do hope they do better than Nicole Kidman for Daisy. She's just not spacy enough to play Daisy. Jennifer Connolly would actually be a much better choice there. Nick should be played by someone who can play under 25. Topher Grace would actually be a good choice. As for Gatsby, this would almost be worth seeing if they got Robert Downey, Jr.
8absolutely adore the book. in fact i nearly bought a new copy just yesterday. it was pretty much the only thing i enjoyed reading in high school. and i really liked the movie with robert redford and sam waterston. it was well done. but not sure if i want to see another remake of this.
9I'm glad other people like the 1974 movie! A few of my friends always tell me I'm the only one who likes it.
10
11(To them, obviously.)
12I LOVE this book, but I'm never very fond of movies based on books. They almost always leave much to be desired..
13aww i'm with you lilkimbo. i couldn't even watch the version with mira sorvino and paul rudd. and i love paul rudd. there's just something 'bout the '74 version. it's a classic in my opinion.
14I love and hate that book/movie..
Siigh the ending. I like Nicole Kidman but seriously now.
Enough of her.
15Ahh!!
Sorry for the double post but I just realized the guy who
played Nick in 1974 is ADA McCoy from Law and Order.
16Can it please be someone other than Nicole Kidman? There are other actresses.
17Great Gatsby is my favorite book ever--and I love Baz--so this is great news!!
18And isn't she a little old for that role anyway ? ...
19well i really do think that this is going to be something good. he does good things, and i think that it could be done well assuming the cast is appropriately picked.
20I will not see this movie if Nicole plays Daisy!!! I do think that James Franco would make a good Gatsby though. Rachel McAdams for Daisy maybe?
21lilkim - agreed.
22oh yeah, Nicole is way too old to be Daisy, wtf???
23When does actual age ever matter to people in Hollywood?
24geez why does everyone hate nicole???
25Amy Adams for Daisy, James McAvoy as Nick, and I like James Franco for Gatsby but would also like Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
26kate bosworth would do for daisy -
27kate bosworth would do for daisy -
28Please, PLEASE no Nicole Kidman. Dear lord I can't stand that woman, and the Great Gatsby is my all-time favorite book. Just pick someone else. She's so not right for the role of Daisy.
29mydiadem, i was thinking nearly the exact same thing! when i read the book for the first time this year, i imagined james mcavoy as nick and amy adams as daisy. i absolutely love this book and i loved moulin rouge and australia so YAY!
30no one could play the gatsby like redford!
31What about Scarlett Johansson as Daisy?
32this is one of my favorite books and NICOLE KIDMAN IS WAY TOO OLD TO PLAY DAISY!!!!
33AMY ADAMS FOR DAISY!
34Ryan Gosling for Gatsby
35Jake Gyllenhall for Nick?! I should have put all my choices in one post but I am deep in thought thinking about who should play what ha.
Ooh Leonardo DiCaprio would be a perfect Gatsby
36I absolutely love this book so I can't wait for the movie! I'm not sure what my dream cast would look like, but like many others, I really hope that he doesn't cast Nicole Kidman in the movie.
37Jordan Baker gets no credit here? She was an important character too! Actually, she was my favorite. She was more gritty (or realistic, anyway), Daisy was too airy.
For some weird reason or another, I always pictured Gatsby as looking kind of like Mr. Clean. But wtf, who had shaved, shiny heads in the 20s? And I saw Nick as being an older version pf this boy from my school... also named Nick (creative, I know). Jordan Baker looked like Louise Brooks, and Daisy was kinda like a chubby version of this look here: http://silent-movies.com/Ladies/Compson/Compson10.jpg
And I don't remember what Tom looked like because I disliked him so much. And I DEFINITELY don't remember the actual descriptions of characters in the book except that Daisy was blonde, and Nick's girl back home developed a line of sweat on her upper lip when they would play tennis. But she wasn't even a character.
In terms of modern actors, I have no clue. But yeah, I am not so much feeling the Nicole Kidman of it all.
38hmm I'm not sure if I'll like it, I liked a lot Romeo + Juliet when I was a teenager but I hated Moulin Rouge
39Toby Stephens was Gatsby in 1999 so i don't know why they have to redo it. He is absolutely gorgeous.
40Enough is enough - puhleeze, anyone but Nicole! I can only see Redford as Gatsby, I'm going to have to think about it
41i haven't seen any of the film adaptions, but i have read the book and if this movie has any chance of being good, they should cast unknowns. maybe just a famous actor for gatsby, i think leonardo dicaprio would be good.
42NO WAY! I love this book! I hope Baz does a good job on this movie. I loved Romeo + Juliet. Moulin Rouge was ok and I havn't seen Australia yet. But if he ruins my favourite book of all time I will hunt him down and kill him...slowly.
I think Nicole would do alright in the role. But I do think its about time he found a new muse. If Nicole is chosen as Daisy it would probably be like watching her in Moulin Rouge again.
New muse Baz. New muse. Do it for us.
43I still can't see how anyone could replace Robert Redford. Man he's hot. THOSE BLUE EYES. *Drool* he was a great Gatsby.
44I love The Great Gatsby. One of my all time favorite books. The 1974 film was great. Nicole would make for a terrible Daisy. I think Daisy should be played by Rachel McAdams. As for Nick, I think Jim Sturgess or Ryan Gosling could play the role well. I don't know who would make a good Gatsby. Redford was amazing, and I don't know who could pull it off as great as he did. I hope the film turns out to be great, I can't wait to see it!
45I see people saying James Franco would fit well as Gatsby. He wouldn't. He would ruin it.
46I loved this book and the 1974 movie version was great too, but I think Baz could make a decent remake of it. As long as he doesn't cast Nicole Kidman...I like her, but she is too old for the role of Daisy. Isn't she supposed to be in her 20s?
47I agree about Amy Adams for Daisy, she would be PERFECT!!!
Somehow I see James McAvoy as Gatsby. I reckon Edward Norton would fit the role nicely too, but he seems to old, Gatsby is supposed to be about 28.
48exciting! i'll have to re-read the book.
49Ewwwww not baz luhrmann please!!!! Anyone else!!!
50And that disgusting botox monster that is Nicole Kidman???
God have mercy!
The 74 movie was alright, Redford and Dunaway have awesome chemistry.
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