Amitabh Bachchan has joined the all star-cast of the Hollywood adaption of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. Directed by Baz Lurhmann (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge), the multi-million dollar production stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby with Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan as Tom and Daisy Buchanan; Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke as Myrtle and George Wilson. Mr. Bachchan will play Meyer Wolfsheim, Gatsby’s business associate. The sinister Wolfsheim is a gambler (he supposedly fixed the 1919 World series) and in the book is the one who helped Gatsby make his money. This will be the first Hollywood production for the venerable actor.
Published in 1925, the novel is considered to be one of the classics in American literature. The story has been adapted to film previously with the first being a silent film in 1926. This new production film will be the 7th adaption and will have Lurhmann’s unique eye and take. In a press release Warner Brother said, “The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before.”
The 125 million dollar film went into production this week in Australia and has a 17-week filming schedule. It will be released in both 2 and 3D formats in 2012.
About the project Lurhmann said, “Fitzgerald’s story defies time and geography. The vision and the goal of our remarkable cast and creatives is to do justice to the deftness of Fitzgerald’s telling, and illuminate its big ideas and humanity. This is our challenge and our adventure.”
