Early Development: July 2002 - May 2003
For almost a year I summarised on this page the early developments associated with the production of Luhrmann's Alexander the Great. This page therefore provides a summary of the movie news that was reported during the early progress of the film from July 2002 through until May 2003.
This page also contains information
relating to Oliver Stone's production of his own Alexander film, which
was recorded in order to keep
an eye on this separate production that was progressing at the same time.
The majority of information featured on this page is based on news reported in various
online articles that are archived in my 'Movie News
Articles' section. Please feel free to take a look at this section to locate original
sources.
Furthermore, detailed information regarding the development of Alexander the Great from 2002 to present has been continually recorded in my News Archives.
________________________________
28 May 2003
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Luhrmann will take De Laurentiis on an outback tour next month in an effort to bring ATG to Australia. Luhrmann took time out from writing the script in Sydney yesterday to say that he will be taking De Laurentiis on a week-long tour of Broken Hill, the Northern Territory and South Australia. He said, "We'll just get a jet and go tearing around Australia."
The article reports, "Under a plan developed with the Australian producer Catherine
Knapman, they will propose that the film be shot in "one or a combination" of these outback areas, with interior filming at Fox Studios in Sydney.
But Luhrmann warned that the Federal Government and others would need "some fairly lateral thinking" to convince the film's overseas backers to base it in Australia.
"The truth is there is a lot of other competition. Tunisia has weighed in, Mexico is pitching. And, of course, Australia's biggest competition is always Canada, because Canada is very, very aggressive about getting films to come to their country.
But, simply put, we absolutely want to make the film in Australia. And we have wanted to do that for over a year now. So we're going to do everything we can to make that happen."
It is also reported that hurdles for an Australian shoot include the rising value of the Australia dollar and the unavailability of "6000 soldiers who don't have a day job" as was offered in Morocco.
Luhrmann admits the scale of the film is daunting, "The reason that Alexander the Great really has not been done successfully before is the sheer scale of it - it's the world's biggest road movie.
He goes from Greece to Turkey to Egypt to Jordan to the Hindu Kush to India, then all the way back again.
And all the way, you're dealing with drama and spectacle. At one stage there were half a million people in one battle."
It is also revealed that while Luhrmann will wait to film with DiCaprio after he
has finished work on The Aviator, he may shoot scenes involving the young Alexander
earlier - an international search for a boy aged seven to 10 to play the part is about to begin.
Concerning the 'competition' from Stone, Luhrmann says he will not race to get
his project to the screen first, "I simply do not believe that I can make a film that requires such extraordinary challenges to be overcome and be rushing at the same time."
21 May 2003
Variety.com reports that
filming of ATG has moved back to Australia. It states, "Following a wave of suicide attacks that killed 41 civilians last week in Casablanca, Dino De Laurentiis plans to move the production of Baz Luhrmann's biopic
Alexander the Great to Australia. De Laurentiis, who built a studio to house
Alexander in Ouarzazate, less than 300 miles from Casablanca, has decided the political conditions are too precarious."
De Laurentiis is quoted as saying, "Unless the situation changes in five or six months, any important American actor could be a target. That is a risk I cannot take."
He also said that, to help convey the feeling of the movie to potential territorial buyers, they have been shown a promo reel that Luhrmann assembled and a photo album with digitally doctored shots of DiCaprio riding a horse in full gladiator attire.
De Laurentiis explained, "When you buy Alexander, you're buying something unique. Whatever they spend, they'll recoup. People will want to put it in the library for future generations. It will play forever in DVD and on television."
14 May 2003
Screendaily.com reports that De Laurentiis will arrive at the Cannes
Festival on 19 May to sell seven major territories for ATG. Universal has domestic rights to the film and DreamWorks has international, but De Laurentiis plans to sell Germany, Japan, France, UK, Spain, Italy and possibly Korea and Australia/New Zealand at Cannes.
De Laurentiis is quoted as saying, "It's an expensive film and the prices are high, although I have already had one offer from Japan of $20m. We are moving slowly and according to our plan. I believe that on a project of this size, you have to prepare properly, so we have eight months' preparation. The film has 20 leading characters and 70 speaking parts. Without full preparation, you go over schedule and over budget." He also adds that the digital effects work that is set to start in November will largely involve Alexander's horse,
Bucephalus.
DiCaprio's comments about his character of Alexander featured in Variety.com on 6 May are also expanded
upon. He is quoted as saying, "It's not just that Alexander conquered the world or was taught by Aristotle. What most attracts me is the complex character of Alexander himself - always restless, impulsive but measured. His legend is one of the most compelling stories in human history."
8 May 2003
News.com.au reports two articles on the same day that contradict each other. One article states that Luhrmann plans to shoot ATG in Australia because he can't get insurance on the principal actors in Morocco or Jordan.
The other states that Luhrmann has changed his mind and has announced that he is now planning to film in Morocco. The article states, "Recently, Luhrmann undertook a reconnaissance of Australian desert locations and decided on making the film here. But the insurance situation seems to have changed and a Morocco shoot is back on, with the obvious blessing of King Mohammed VI, who will donate his army as extras."
7 May 2003
The Los Angeles Times features a direct quote from Luhrmann,
"'I am not going to be drawn into a race,' Luhrmann said late Monday from his native Australia."
Luhrmann also says he will begin working on his film's digital effects in November and plans to begin rehearsals with DiCaprio and Kidman in January.
The following information is also revealed: "Among the 17 lead roles and 70 speaking parts, Luhrmann has yet to cast Philip, Alexander's father, and the two young actors who will play Alexander as a child and a teen."
"Luhrmann's film has been delayed by three things. First, DiCaprio is starring in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes story
The Aviator and won't be available until late in the year. Second, Luhrmann has been revising screenwriter Ted Tally's
Alexander the Great draft, adding much more material about his formative childhood years and Alexander's psychology. Finally, Luhrmann and his production-designer wife, Catherine Martin, have been trying to start a family; they are now expecting their first child, a daughter, in October."
"Luhrmann's movie at one point was going to be made primarily in Jordan, but the filmmakers were unable to get insurance to cover working in a country adjacent to Iraq. "At the moment, it's impossible," says Dino De
Laurentiis, who is producing
Alexander the Great. He convinced Morocco to supply as many as 4,000 soldiers and 8,000 horses to the production, and the production is relocating to the African country."
6 May 2003
Variety.com reports that producer Dino De Laurentiis has stated that ATG will now not be released until at least late 2005. The article also reveals that the film will require the casting of about 70 speaking roles as well as hordes of extras, supplied from the Moroccan army by King Mohammed VI. De Laurentiis is quoted as saying,
"This huge preparation can't be done in less than eight or nine months". Principal photography is set to begin in April 2003, and the shoot is expected to last for six months. Meanwhile, it is also revealed that Stone's
Alexander is still set for a November 2004 release and will shoot for
twelve weeks.
DiCaprio is quoted as saying, "What most attracts me is the complex character of Alexander himself. His legend is one of the most compelling stories in human history."
And Kidman is quoted as saying of her character Olympia, "She is unlike any other woman I've played before, and it's a role I'm really looking forward to."
Intermedia chief Moritz Borman (the studio backing Stone's film) is also quoted as saying, "Oliver and I have always said there's nothing wrong with two Alexander projects. On the surface it might not make sense. But they just have to be vastly different, and with those two filmmakers they are."
4 May 2003
Variety.com reports that Anthony Hopkins is in talks to play Ptlomeny in Stone's Alexander. The article also provides more information about the proposed filming locations for Stone's film - London and Morocco. It is also said that while Stone will make use of the resources provided by King Mohammed of Morocco, the production of Luhrmann's ATG has now shifted from Morocco to Australia after he was unable to get insurance for his actors.
1 May 2003
Publicity
surrounding Stone's Alexander continues to build with a report from FilmJerk.com
that it is "starting to hit on all
cylinders in pre-production". The article reports that,
according to official sources close to the production, casting auditions started
last week for the characters of Alexander's mother and father, as well as for
the military general Ptolemy. Casting calls have also begun circulating for a
variety of roles, including the following:
"Hephaiston: A Macedonian commander, he is Alexander's closest friend and
sometimes lover. Late 20s early 30s, dark and handsome, slightly larger-boned
and stronger than Alexander; he looks like a natural leader but lacks a bit of
Alexander's essential charisma. He loves and supports Alexander through
Alexander's rise and fall, through his marriage to Roxane and his many other
affairs.
Roxane: Alexander's first wife. A teenager when we first meet her. Dark and
ethnic in a way no longer seen – her look is gypsy-ish. She is beautiful and
powerful. The casting notes relay that she "could possibly be of Afghani or
Iranian descent."
Bagoas: Young, dark, effeminate, beautiful. A Persian eunuch, he is the former
lover of the Emperor Darius, Alexander inherits him when he conquers Darius and
the Persian empire. He becomes Alexander's servant and one of his lovers. Ever a
servant, he must quietly swallow his jealousy over Alexander's paramount
affection for Hephaistion."
The article states that announcements on these roles should be following
shortly, and goes on to say: "The production is also seeking any British or
otherwise European male actors for other roles to be announced." and
invites interested actors and actresses to contact the film's casting agents,
with the following details disclosed:
"Alexander" (Warner Bros.) Scorecard
Producers: Intermedia, Moritz Borman, Jon Kilik, Thomas Schuhly and Iain
Smith
Director: Oliver Stone
Screenwriter: Christopher Kyle
Casting: Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith, Kerry Barden and Mark Bennett
Production Begins: 9/2003
Location: England, Other Locations TBD
Production Companies: Intermedia/Warner Bros.
The article also states that, "Additionally, the Luhrmann project faces an additional hurdle in that the major studio financing the project, Universal, is now on the block to be sold; depending on the new owner, this project could fall victim to be shut down."
29 April 2003
ScreenDaily.com discloses some insightful information about the progress of Stone's Alexander. The site reports that France's Pathe has become a co-production partner and will handle distribution rights in France and Benelux. Stone's film is being financed by Intermedia and domestic distribution rights belong to Warner Brothers. Intermedia's sales partnership with Summit Entertainment, I/S Film Distribution, is handling other territories at Cannes. In addition to Warner and Pathe, IMF, the German Film Fund associated with Intermedia, will invest in the picture. Stone's film is therefore structured as being a UK-France-Germany co-production, and the budget is set to exceed US$100 million.
Warner Brothers plans to open
Stone's Alexander in fall 2004, about six months after Warner's other
classical epic Troy starring Brad Pitt and directed by Wolfgang Peterson
which is currently set to open on 21 May, 2004.
The article also discloses that other key characters currently being cast in
Stone's film are Alexander's mother and father and Ptolemy, one of his generals.
Meanwhile, Stone has been travelling around the world for the last year scouting
locations from northern Africa to northern India. Shooting is still scheduled to
begin this summer, which means it is set to begin production before Luhrmann's
film.
23 April 2003
Colin Farrell talks with BBC Radio 1 about his upcoming lead role in Stone's Alexander: "Everything is in it. There's greed, there's jealousy, there's love, there's pain, there's hope, there's desperation, there's pride, there's friendship, there's betrayal. It's an amazing, amazing story. There's so much in it - it's so dense that it nearly reads like bad fiction. Obviously bisexual - which wasn't even an issue back then. There was no term for bisexuality - it was just the way society was. People made love to men and women. It was only later on you had to pick one side of the fence. It's amazing."
21 April 2003
The Daily Telegraph creates further speculation about the 'race' to film the story of Alexander the Great by reporting "...One thing on which almost everyone agrees is only one Alexander the Great film has a chance of succeeding."
20 April 2003
There is confusion on the IMDb as people realise that James Holzier's name has been removed from the cast list on Stone's Alexander. This prompts James's publicist, Rod Mitchell, to post on the IMBb message board for the film to put the record straight about James's credits, and he gives me permission to use his comments:
"I am James
Holzier's publicist, and was just forwarded the message board for Alexander
(2004), and have read all of the postings regarding James' credits.
First of all, anyone who works in this industry is fully aware that errors in
information listed on IMDB are a regular occurance, and it is not an indication
that any cast or crew member has disseminated fraudulent information, as alleged
by the writer of this [James Holzier is NOT in Alexander] posting. When the
information is posted on a production, similar information appears in the
actor's credits. Listing information changes constantly, especially with pending
productions.
James has met with Oliver Stone on numerous occasions over the past year
regarding a supporting lead role in the film. Those in the know are aware that
Heath Ledger was an original consideration for the lead, and although this was
not formally announced, his name appeared (for a brief time) on IMDB, along with
James Holzier. Colin Farrel is now Oliver Stone's target for the lead, and both
Colin and James have been fitted for hair extensions (an expensive cosmetic
application that no production company incurs without good cause). Both are
currently in final negotiation for their roles and when finalized, then, and
only then will the information posted on IMDB be accurate."
15 April 2003
The IMDb pages for both Luhrmann's ATG and Stone's Alexander remove all cast and crew credits that have been added over the past few weeks. It is a clear indicator that these names were either unconfirmed or incorrect, and the IMDb has chosen to review both pages and remove the details, confirming my suspicions that recently posted information has been misleading. Only the names of Leonardo DiCaprio and Colin Farrell remain on the cast credits for each film, while all crew is reverted back to those names that have been confirmed by additional sources.
14 April 2003
The New York Post creates speculation when it reports that Leonardo DiCaprio may not get around to playing the lead role in Luhrmann's ATG, and DiCaprio's spokesman, Ken Sunshine, is quoted as saying, "Right now, The Aviator is the only definite."
8 April 2003
Playbill Online reports that Luhrmann said he recently returned from Jordan where he was scouting locations with the King of Jordan in the royal's Black Hawk helicopter.
7 April 2003
The film's IMDb page adds the following cast credits: Mike Garcia, Veronica Linsley, Raymond Manjra, Cameron McPhee, Cristine Seeber, Fahim Shah, Keith Simmons, Joyce Vaught, Carolyn Wallace, and Lesley Ann Warren. (All information remains unconfirmed, as recent information supplied to the ATG IMDb page has been misleading.) Maria Hatzis's name is temporarily taken off the ATG IMDb page to update her details, and T.Atcheson's name is removed from the 'Directed by' category, having obviously been submitted by mistake.
29 March 2003
The film's IMDb page adds the following production credits: Executive producer - Faye Bays, Associate producer -Christie Moore, Casting manager - Francine Blosser, Casting manager - Hans Seth (All information remains unconfirmed, as recent information supplied to the ATG IMDb page has been misleading.)
Dark Horizons reports that, according to Reforma, Mexican photographer Rodrigo Prieto ("Frida", "8 Mile") has been hired to serve as Director of Photography on Oliver Stone's Alexander, and that shooting starts in September in Morocco, India, Spain and England. This news indicates that the starting date has been pushed back from June to later in the year.
28 March 2003
Empire (UK magazine, May 2003 edition, on sale 28 March) publishes a small article about Oliver Stone, and in it he is asked if there is room for two Alexander the Great films. He replies:
"I think yes, because it's a great story. You could do it five or six times because it's a wonderful character, almost Shakepearean. I can't make this into a dog race; it would be too destructive. For us the biggest issue was always the script; I've been on this, off and on, for ten years and I knew we're there with it now."
22 March 2003
The film's IMDb page adds the following production credits: Cinematography by Nicholas D. and Film Editing by Mary Barco. Boyd Rahier is also added to the writing credits for the screenplay (despite Ted Tally already being listed). Most surprisingly of all, T. Atcheson is added as co-director alongside Baz Luhrmann! None of these new people have any previous work listed on their individual IMDb pages, and no agent details have been listed to contact for confirmation. (All information remains unconfirmed, as recent information supplied to the ATG IMDb page has been misleading.)
13 March 2003
Ireland Online reports that Luhrmann's ATG will begin filming in November, allowing Leonardo DiCaprio to first star in The Good Shephard.
12 March 2003
The film's IMDb page adds the following production credits: Production Design by Ken Larson, Art Direction by Todd Green, Set Decoration by Todd Green and Original Music by Eckart Seeber. It also adds two new locations - Florida, USA and Alberta, Canada. (All information remains unconfirmed, as recent information supplied to the ATG IMDb page has been misleading.)
28 February 2003
Maria Hatzis's agent, Michael Harlington, informs me that Maria has been told that she will begin filming her scenes in the middle of the year. [However, a couple of weeks later, Maria herself informed me that, while they did want her to begin filming in the middle of the year, she has other commitments to fulfil before beginning work on Alexander the Great, and so will probably not start filming until the end of the year.]
22 February 2003
In what I believe to be my first site exclusive, I announce here on this website that Maria Hatzis will be playing Leptine. This information was confirmed via an e-mail from her agent, Michael Harlington.
10 February 2003
On the IMDb page for Luhrmann's ATG, a contributor to the page's message board by the name of LSA-7 makes the following suggestion regarding the possible role of Maria Hatzis:
"In the Alexander trilogy by Valerio Manfredi, Alexander rescues a barbarian girl named Leptine and she becomes his devoted slave. He later finds out that she was an Amazon princess."
Hatzis is only 12 years old, which fits the slave girl description. And could "adapted princess" mean "Amazon-princess-turned-slave-girl"? The speculation increases surrounding the role of this actress.
6 February 2003
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Martin Scorsese, executive producer for ATG, is a fan of Luhrmann's works. The article contains information about Scrosese's latest film, Gangs of New York, and near the bottom of the article he is quoted as saying:
"I really admire his work and I admire the creative energy of his style. His visualisation is amazing. A lot of Moulin Rouge is really so exhilarating. At first, I screened it on a very big screen and I was sitting real close. So it was a little hard to take in. But then, when I just lay back and let the whole thing roll over me, I went with it. It's very beautiful and very interesting particularly in visualising drama through the lens."
4 February 2003
The IMDb page for Luhrmann's ATG adds Maria Hatzis to the cast list. Her character is listed only as "Adapted Princess".
20 January 2003
(approx.)
Woman's Day magazine publishes a very revealing article with lots of new movie information provided by an 'Alexander the Great insider'. The insider is quoted as saying:
"This is Baz's most ambitious movie ever and he's going all-out with the casting. He wanted Leonardo DiCaprio to play the mighty Alexander and that's just what he got. Next he demanded his good friend Nicole be cast as Leo's mum! And he got her! She signed to play Olympia just before Christmas - and what a Christmas present for the movie!"
"Leonardo is especially psyched to have Nicole on board. He was pushing hard to get her the part. There was a lot of talk about how Nicole was just a few years older that Leonardo. The studio was especially concerned about the age discrepancy. They were thinking of an older actress to play Olympia, someone like Sharon Stone or Glenn Close. So when Baz came up with Nicole the studio thought he had lost it."
The article explains, "Executives were afraid there would be sexual chemistry between Nicole and Leo, and that it would be off-putting for audiences. But Baz convinced them Nicole is a great actress who can make an audience believe she's any age she wants - and that the sexual tension between mother and son is exactly what he's after! He believes there was a definite Oedipal theme running through all the historical accounts of Alexander's life."
The insider further reveals, "Alexander had one great love of his life and it was Hephaestion. It's a central part of the script. Alexander's mother, Olympia, didn't much care for Hephaestion and she made life difficult for her son and his lover."
The source also explains how they accommodated Kidman's asking price, "It's a supporting actress part and Nicole commands a lead price. But everyone finally agreed that getting Nicole in the part was worth every penny and they'd find ways to slash the budget down the road."
Kidman's schedule was another concern, as she is currently filming the remake of The Stepford Wives and doing promo work for Dogville. The article states that, "Baz rearranged filming to shoot her scenes in the windows of time she had available." And the insider adds, "Leo said he'd be willing to work 24 hours a day to accommodate Nicole. She was really flattered by that."
The article reveals, "Baz has also promised
to put a very honest depiction of a gay relationship on screen. The studio was initially
concerned that Leo's core audience of teenage girls wouldn't go for him kissing a man on
screen, but Baz insisted it was the right approach."
The insider states, "The studio finally caved and agreed to let Baz film it the way
he wants to."
The article reports that the film's budget is set at AU$260 million, and the insider is finally quoted as saying, "Baz has wanted to do this movie for ages. He's fascinated by how much there is to discover about Alexander. Baz has a theory that Alexander invented western civilisation as we know it and he's going to show why in the film."
17 January 2003
Variety reveals production details for Oliver Stone's own Alexander movie in an article entitled 'The 'Great' race is shifting into high gear'. This article was only accessible to subscribers, but Dark Horizons reported the following information:
"Variety reports that Intermedia has set a late June start for the Colin Farrell/Oliver Stone version, several months before the DiCaprio/Luhrmann version is rumoured to be starting. Intermedia chairman Moritz Borman says 'Barring accidents and natural disasters, this is a definite 'go' movie for us. Colin's deal has been made, he's juggled his dates and made time for training. We've not decided 100% where we are going to start, haven't made up our minds whether we'll sell territories ourselves, or to a studio like we did on 'Terminator 3.' The June date changes only in that Oliver might begin second unit shooting earlier'."
Furthermore, the Internet Movie Database page for Oliver Stone's Alexander already lists a US release date of June 2004, indicating that this film will most likely be made and released before Luhrmann's.
8 January 2003
MTV.com reports that both Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman have not yet officially signed on for Alexander the Great. It states, "A spokesperson for DiCaprio — whose "Catch Me If You Can" and "Gangs of New York" are both in theaters — described him as "very interested" in starring in "Alexander the Great" and said that final contractual arrangements are underway. DiCaprio previously worked with Luhrmann on 1996's "Romeo + Juliet." Luhrmann also wants Nicole Kidman to play Alexander's mother, Olympia, though representatives for the busy actress insist she is not yet officially onboard."
This information disputes an article published by The Toronto Sun back on 18 September 2002, where producer Dino De Laurentiis confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio has signed on, and a Sydney Morning Herald article dated 1 January 2003, where Nicole Kidman's own publicist confirmed that "she is doing a part". This MTV.com article is therefore deemed to be inaccurate publicity by the owner of this site.
6 January 2003
The Irish Examiner publishes an article that creates speculation that shooting of Alexander the Great may be pushed back to early 2004. It discusses how, after the overwhelming success of Titanic and the problems that went with it, DiCaprio is now concentrating on getting his screen career back on track with historical roles.
The article states, "Historical characters are now very much to the fore in DiCaprio's screen choices. He has agreed to reteam with Scorsese again to depict the eccentric Howard Hughes in The Aviator. He has also committed to Baz Luhrmann's epic Alexander The Great to be shot in Morocco. He's also due to play a CIA agent in Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd, set to shoot next autumn."
This is followed by a direct quote from DiCaprio himself: "I’ll do The Aviator first and then Alexander, and both those should take up at least eight months so I'm essentially booked for the next two years."
[DiCaprio's comments indicate potential shooting problems, in that filming of The Aviator is not set to begin until 12th May. If filming did indeed 'take up at least eight months', this would push the production of Luhrmann's ATG into early 2004 instead of late 2003, as planned. An added concern is that DiCaprio is also set to star in The Good Shepherd, which has a reported starting date of the coming US autumn. I can't help but wonder how DiCaprio is going to manage making three films in one year! - Vanessa]
2 January 2003
The Telegraph publishes an insightful article detailing the "battle" that Hollywood is facing this year as studios set about producing a variety of sword-and-sandal epics, and explains how the genre is back in fashion after 40 years. Wolfgang Petersen is filming Troy, an adaptation of The Iliad with Brad Pitt as Achilles. Universal is making Battle of Thermopylae with George Clooney. Sony Pictures has Vin Diesel starring in Hannibal. James Cameron is working on a story about the Amazons and, of course, there are two films set to be made about Alexander the Great.
The article reiterates what The Guardian reported a few days ago in that Gladiator has spawned new studio interest in such period epics. Mark Gordon, producer of Braveheart, is quoted as saying, "For years studios will say 'no, no, no' to these kinds of historical projects. Then you have a phenomenon like Gladiator and suddenly, studios are saying 'yes, yes, yes'."
The article makes an interesting revelation in that Baz Luhrmann's ATG is budgeted at US$160 million (which is US$10 million more than previously speculated). It also goes on to report that Petersen's Troy has a budget of US$16 million more (which means that ATG may be eclipsed by other productions and not be the second biggest production of all time after all).
The article states the obvious worry that there may not be a big enough audience for so many epic films, but immediately adds:
"Luhrmann, however, is confident that the zeitgeist is right for his picture. "It was the first time that the pendulum swung away from Eastern culture," he has said of the period of Alexander the Great. "What's going on in the world today is directly applicable to Alexander's time. The level of contemporary resonance is unbelievable."
1 January 2003
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers confirm that Nicole Kidman has signed on to take part in Luhrmann's ATG. Nicole's publicist, Wendy Lamb, is quoted as saying, "She's confirmed with me ... that she is doing a part in Baz Luhrmann's film, Alexander The Great." The articles go on to state that this part is set to be that of Alexander's mother, Olympia.
30 December 2002
The Guardian publishes a detailed article explaining the fascination and controversy surrounding the historical figure of Alexander the Great. Regarding movies, it states, "for decades film-makers have shied away from fully portraying the complex personality of the most feared and revered leader in history," but, "now at last the time seems to have come for the first bisexual action hero." It also explains that there are still four possible productions in the works.
The article notes that Ridley Scott's Gladiator proved that "swords-and-sandal epics" could still attract audiences, and that Scott, as well as Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone had all worked on Alexander projects. Scott bailed out, Scorsese did a deal with Baz Luhrmann, and Stone has held on to his own separate project. The article points out that the "prohibitive cost and the risk of being beaten to the screen has set off a cat-and-mouse game of false starts and shifting alliances among the chief players to rival Alexander's own battle of wits with the Persian emperor Darius."
The Guardian reveals a lot of information about both Luhrmann's and Stone's productions, as follows:
"Typically Luhrmann's Alexander will not be short on flamboyance, despite being based on the Italian historian Valerio Manfredi's trilogy of novels about the all-conquering hero. After taking three male lovers, and diverting himself with the odd eunuch, he will be shown putting politics before pleasure to do his duty with the single-breasted queen of the Amazons, according to scriptwriter Ted Tally."
"While Luhrmann and Tally's script is
believed to stick closely to Manfredi's take on Alexander as the great expander of Greek
and thus western cultural influence, Stone's take is more heretical, as one would expect
from the man who made JFK. It also gives full play to the whirl of conspiracy theories
that surrounded Alexander's life and death."
Stone is quoted as saying, "I was intrigued to discover that his famous father,
Philip II, had been assassinated under mysterious circumstances. Alexander, not far from
his side that day, was immediately suspect. The assassin himself was quickly slain, and
the murder remains an enigma. In Alexander's own untimely death at 33 we have again strong
evidence of a conspiracy of family clans. Did he die of fever or from poisoned wine? I
choose to believe the latter."
In regards to Stone's project, the article reiterates that he hopes to begin filming in June, and reveals that he will be shooting in Morocco, rather than his previous choice of location, India.
It states, "Neither he nor Luhrmann would be drawn on whether there was room for two big Alexander films."
The article then goes on to reveal information about third and fourth possible Alexander productions. Despite being shelved, Mel Gibson's US$120 million Alexander mini series is "ready to roll". However, it also points out that this series was supposed to begin filming in the autumn but was delayed without reason. A fourth low budget production by Alfonso Arau, which would be shot in Mexico, is also awaiting a green light.
The article goes on to explain the controversy surrounding the word Macedonian, protests over Alexander's supposed homosexuality and Stone's reaction to it all, "We cannot censor Hollywood. I don't know what I can do." It also details how Macedonians are worried about the depiction of Alexander, and explains how there have been so few biopics made about him.
21 December 2002
Arabic News.com reports that Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of King Mohammed VI, met with Baz and Dino De Laurentiis in Paris on Thursday, 19th December, to discuss the construction of their studio facility in Ouarzazate, Southern Morocco. The publication also announces that the studios are to be built over 150 hectares and will allow for the shooting of two major films annually per year, starting from 2004.
Arabic News.com reports that Luhrmann and De Laurentiis plan to use Ouarzazate and the Mediterranean coast for ATG, and the pair will then shoot in their Ouarzazate studios their next project with a budget of US$60 million called The Last Legion.
20 December 2002
Variety reports that Oliver Stone's version of Alexander is set to be backed by Warner Brothers for a start date of June 2003, and is "no longer considered the underdog in this odd little race."
Variety confirms that Stone has finished the script and that Colin Farrell has definitely signed on. He won the role of the charismatic conqueror six months ago after doing a 'persuasive and extensive' screen test with Stone.
Variety announces that the tentative title for Stone's version of movie is Comandante, and that he is scouting for locations, with Farrell clearing his schedule in order to allow shooting to begin on time.
The Hollywood Star News further reports that, while some thought that Leonardo DiCaprio announcing he would star in Luhrmann's film would put an end to the competing version, all it did was speed up plans for Stone's film. The publication states that, "There are many cases in the past where this happened, and only one of the two films was a success. It is usually the first to come out, but not always. And sometimes both movies can fail."
It's reported that Stone has been working on his movie for over a year and his earlier start date will put him ahead of Luhrmann's version. However, the Hollywood Star News falters when it reports that Stone's production is said to have a "strong script by Ted Tally" and King Mohammed VI is willing to lend his army as extras, information which has already been linked to Luhrmann's ATG.
19 December 2002
AAP reports that the legendary Steven Spielberg (who has recently become part of ATG through DreamWorks) has given Baz Luhrmann the "ultimate compliment" by saying that Luhrmann "reminds him of himself." He says he was mesmerised by him when he met Luhrmann last week and is quoted as saying,
"I think Baz and I have one thing in common. I think instead of a right eye, we have a camera lens screwed into our heads. I really sensed that when I sat around and met with Baz, we had a meeting last week. Just listening to him talk, it just reminded me that here is an amazing talent who really understands about montage, about editing, about everything. He really has that lens in his right eye."
Steven then goes on to reveal that he would like to shoot a movie in Australia, even though he's never been there. He says, "I mean, there's good reason for me to go over there. The reason I haven't is it's 15-and-a-half hours to get there and it's the longest airplane ride I think you can take."
[Okay, as an Australian, I just have to say that I feel this is definitely not a good enough excuse for not coming to Oz! The flight from my home town in Australia to the UK can take over 20 hours, and 15-and-a-half hours is way better than that. I suffer from air sickness, but I don't let that stop me from travelling half way across the world to visit friends and work in another country. To Steven I say, "Come on over, the flight is definitely worth it! And I'm sure Baz will agree with me on that!"
It is also going to be interesting to see Luhrmann working with Spielberg on ATG, although exactly how much involvement he will have has not yet been confirmed. Spielberg has expressed valid interest in the project, and now will probably be involved through his company, DreamWorks. This is probably what their meeting was about last week?]
18 December 2002
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that "the Baz Luhrmann show is rolling on", despite the surprise withdrawal of 20th Century Fox. The article reveals that Universal and DreamWorks are now 50-50 partners in the production of ATG, and also aims to assure us that the ties between Baz and 20th Century Fox have not been severed. The article states:
"Given that Luhrmann is personally close to the Murdoch's and Fox has backed Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge, the studio's withdrawal and the family's reported absence from the New York premiere of the opera La Boheme have sparked speculation about a rift. But a source in Sydney insisted yesterday that they were still "very close", with Fox's move "just a financial decision" on a big-budget movie."
The article also points out that the studio would have been very happy about the reception Moulin Rouge received at Cannes, and its award nominations, including winning two Oscars.
Luhrmann stated that he still intended on working on future projects with Fox, but explained, "They were starting to express nervousness about the scale of the project. To confront this kind of epic material, I knew I had to be working with people who would have an absolute commitment to the project."
The article then reports that pre-production is expected to begin in May, with filming taking place in Morocco, Australia or Jordan, or a combination of the three. It is revealed that the King of Jordan has offered Baz "an equally exciting invitation" as King Mohammed.
Luhrmann then describes the film as, "a
psychological drama involving a small boy whose parents are fighting for him and whose
father was unable to acknowledge his love for the son. When the father dies, the son vows
to avenge his father's death."
"In this pursuit of revenge, he transforms Persian culture, but the whole time he is
driven by his desire to connect with a love that can never be realised because it was
never there in the first place."
14 December 2002
Hollywood Star News sums up the studio
revelations of the past couple of days with the following statement:
"[ATG] was to have been made by 20th Century Fox, but as the budget soared
past $140 million, the studio got cold feet. Now executive producer Martin Scorsese has
joined with producer Dino De Laurentiis to set up the movie as a co-production of
Universal Studios and DreamWorks, with major backing from another independent production
entity."
Regarding the story of the film, Luhrmann says, "What we are exploring is the notion
of pathos. This notion of an unfulfilled desire, a pursuit of a horizon that never
arrives."
It is further added that, 'The plot suggests that Olympia was involved in her husband's
murder, which confuses Alexander and fires his desire to make things right. "It's the
Rosebud theory," Luhrmann said. "Alexander is the Hamlet of the ancient
world."'
13 December 2002
Publications all over the net report the
withdrawal of 20th Century Fox, but also reveal that DreamWorks have stepped in to take
its place.
Reuters assures us that "the DreamWorks and Universal partnership is… a
natural. The studios have partnered on scores of major releases, including another
sword-and-sandal spectacular, Gladiator, which won the best picture Oscar two
years ago." Apparently, the studios are also planning to make a Gladiator 2.
Reuters also reveals that DreamWorks partner Steven Spielberg could now play an
"instrumental role" in the production of ATG. It is reported that he
has taken a "keen interest" in the film and may help keep costs in order.
Luhrmann is quoted as saying, "Like so many, I have been drawn to the story of a
20-year-old Macedonian boy who, seeking the love and approval of his dead father, ends up
conquering more of the world's surface than any man to have come before or after."
The other big announcement across the net today is that Nicole Kidman is considering the
role of Alexander's mother, Olympia. In this role, she would watch as her son grew from
boy to man, and would be artificially aged throughout the film.
Martin Scorsese has also signed on as a co-producer along with Dino and Martha De
Laurentiis.
Meanwhile, Variety reports that filming of the DiCaprio/Scorsese project, The
Aviator, will begin in May 2003 for a 2004 release.
12 December 2002
The Hollywood Reporter announces that
20th Century Fox it has pulled out of Baz Luhrmann's ATG.
Jeffrey Godsick, executive vice president of publicity and promotions at Fox, stated,
''Our allegiance is to Baz and our long-term relationship with him. However, this deal
does not work for us economically, so we have agreed to let him see if he can put it
together with other partners.''
11 December 2002
The Sydney Morning Herald reveals that Baz Luhrmann is leaving for Morocco to start pre-production on ATG on 13 December. Luhrmann says, "I'm leaving on Friday to go to Jordan to meet with the king and look at horses."
10 December 2002
In a Moviehole interview, Leonardo DiCaprio himself confirms that it "looks like" he will star in Baz's ATG.
7 December 2002
Rediff.com announces that Baz Luhrmann
is seeking to bury rumours that Leonardo DiCaprio may be unavailable to play Alexander.
Baz says, "I specifically want him in the movie, and he wants specifically to be in
the movie, too." The publication states that Baz is willing to wait for Leo to
complete other movie obligations (ie. The Aviator), and will perhaps film scenes
not involving Alexander first.
Luhrmann also reveals his passion for making an Alexander film, "I want to do
something of an epic. I have been doing research and thinking of Alexander for ten
years." The publication states that "the preliminary script is ready and he will
going to Morocco early next year to scout locations". It also reveals that Baz
continues to read about Alexander and one of his publicists recently sent him a copy of
Partha Bose's book, "Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy: The Timeless Lessons of
History's Greatest Empire Builder".
Luhrmann reveals that the life of Alexander is "endlessly fascinating" to him,
and is quoted as saying, "There is so much to rediscover about Alexander. There were
too many challenges he had to face but look at the huge transformation he goes through,
not only a ruler but also as a conqueror. More than any other man, he spread the ideas of
Western civilisation. One could even say that he invented the genetics of Western
civilisation."
3 December 2002
The Sydney Morning Herald announces
that, according to a US TV interview, Baz Luhrmann may be planning to film some of ATG
in Sydney, Australia. He is particularly fond of working again at Fox Studios, where
he made Moulin Rouge. It has not yet been revealed whether Baz will work in
Sydney during principal photography or post production.
The newspaper goes on to announce that Catherine Martin will do the production and costume
design for the film. It also mentions that the film is already attracting much interest in
the US, with some people supporting Baz Luhrmann and others not so happy about him helming
the project. However, the article finishes on a positive note in that Sydney is sure to
embrace Baz, Leo and co. if they decide to work in Sydney.
25 November 2002
Arabic News.com announces that the
production of ATG in Morocco will create 20,000 seasonal jobs. The production
director at the Moroccan Cinema Center explained that "jobs will be created as of the
beginning of the studio construction works in February, and during technical
operations," and they will be seeking "craftsmen of different specialties".
The newspaper also reveals that ATG is set to become the second biggest
production of all time with 5000 extras and a budget of US$150 million, US$50 million of
which is to be spent filming in Morocco.
3 November 2002
Ain't It Cool releases an interview
with Baz Luhrmann discussing all his latest projects. The interviewer, Quint, asks a
couple of questions about Alexander.
The first question is "Can you tell me anything about Alexander, like how
you're going to visually realise the film?"
Luhrmann replies, "These are the realities: I'm committing to it as the first of the
epic film I'm going to do. I'm working with Dino (De Laurentiis), we've got the studio
being built in Morocco while I'm finishing up on La Boheme. In terms of casting, the
rumours about Leonardo (DiCaprio) have validity. I can't go into that because we're doing
our own construct at the moment, but I'm already clearly working on the story. We will
invent a cinematic style and language that is specific to that job at hand. By the very
nature of it it's not going to be the same language as we've invented for the musical
works."
The second question is, "What drew you to doing a movie about Alexander the Great
in the first place?"
Luhrmann replies, "You know, I have many epic works that I really want to explore,
but I've been fascinated by his character. The thing about Alexander is that we, you and
I, would not be sitting here but for him because essentially you got someone who was
trained by the greatest military mind of his time, his father... By the sort of Obi-Wan
Kenobi of the Ancient World, which is Aristotle. It's a freak situation. His parents are
arguing over him, so he's looking for the approval of his father, but his father dies
before he can get that love.
It's really just a domestic situation and if they lived in a suburban house it would
really be no big deal, but they happened to possess the world. So, in pursuit of that
approval of his father, his terrible internal complex becomes an external complex where he
just goes beyond the boundaries of the world. He invaded more of the lands better than any
general before or after. More extraordinarily, you have to remember that before Alexander
the Great... In the same way that perhaps Western Culture is American dominated to a
certain degree, and that's no judgment... It was Persian dominated (back then). That's
Iraq. The Battle of Gaugamela is exactly in the middle of the No Fly Zone in Iraq.
So, interestingly, the moment at which this thing called "western thought"
actually started having an influence on the globe was through Alexander the Great. He had
this idea... What if all cultures could live under the one banner? What if East and West
could live together? For all those reasons it has great potency."
9 October 2002
Moviehole reports that Leonardo DiCaprio will be making Scorsese's The Aviator before Alexander, which means the production will be pushed back from its expected January 2002 start date.
20 September 2002
Through an interview with Ted Tally, TV
Guide reveals that the character of Alexander will be bisexual.
Tally says, "[Alexander]'ll be bisexual. He seems to have been kind of omnisexual as
a person. There's a story about him that I love, where he was campaigning in Asia, and a
royal courtier from Macedonia reached him and said, 'Your sister is having an affair.' And
he said, 'I don't see why she shouldn't have a little fun just because she's the
princess.' Coming from a man who had three wives, at least four known mistresses, a
lifelong male lover, and also is believed to have slept with a eunuch and an Amazon, this
is open-mindedness at its best.'"
Tally is also confident that Stone will drop his version of Alexander and says,
"Oliver Stone has not given up yet, but he will when Dino gets done with him. Dino
has already got the army and everything... Dino said the most important thing about a
movie like this is, 'Where are you gonna get the army?' Forget the script, the director
and the star."
18 September 2002
The Toronto Sun confirms with producer
Dino De Laurentiis that Leonardo DiCaprio has signed on to star as Alexander. The
newspaper also reports that Martin Scorsese has signed on as a co-producer, which implies
that he has definitely dropped out of making a version of his own.
De Laurentiis tells The Toronto Sun, "We have the full support of the King
of Morocco. They give us 5,000 soldiers and 1,000 horses. It will be a very long movie to
film ... you get together 5,000 extras, you need six months training just for them."
The newspaper states that Alexander had "conquered the known world by the age of 25
with an army of 30,000", and Tally adds, "The highest ideal in the Greek world
is achieving undying fame, and he was worshipped as a god for 1,500 years after his
death."
17 September 2002
Variety publishes sections of a diary that Baz Luhrmann kept while making his production of La Bohème, and an entry dated today contains Luhrmann's current thoughts regarding Alexander the Great:
"In the middle of rehearsal [of La Bohème], Dino called to say that with all the talk of invading Iraq, which might complicate things with Morocco, we should consider Australia as a backup location for "Alexander." At that moment, I remembered once having had the fear that LB might topple my "Alexander" plans, and here was Dino, like the great commander himself, never more determined than in the face of war. Surrounded by all three pairs of Mimis and Rodolphos and a human mass of extras and stagehands that in two weeks would be in front of our first audience at the Curran Theatre, I knew for the first time that "Alexander," the second act of our lives, was finally upon us."
More diary entries relating to the early conception of Alexander the Great can be found here.
17 August 2002
Arabic News.com announces that three soundstages are to be built in Morocco for the production of ATG. This studio facility will be a partnership between De Laurentiis and Bazmark Films and privately financed by Dino and Martha De Laurentiis. An opening schedule for the facility is set for 6 September 2002. The new stages will be headquartered in Ouarzazate, Morocco, and will take about four months to build. They will be used for the production of ATG and then left in Ouarzazate for future productions. It is also stated that filming on Alexander is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2003.
15 August 2002
Today it was revealed all over the net today
that Leonardo DiCaprio is now in negotiations to play Baz Luhrmann's Alexander. Scorsese's
version of Alexander looks like it will be dropped, leaving Leo to play the role
in Baz's version instead. King Muhammed VI has pledged 5,000 soldiers and 1,000 horses to
recreate sweeping battle scenes.
Meanwhile, Intermedia executives claim they are moving forward with Oliver Stone's version
of Alexander the Great and this project will go into production in early 2003. Variety
reports that because both Stone and Luhrmann's films could cost around US$140 million, the
film that begins shooting first will be the only project that gets made. The future of
Scorsese's The Aviator is unclear as Leo is courted for Baz's ATG.
25 July 2002
Universal and Fox Studios release statements in Variety
magazine:
Universal Pictures chairman Stacey Snider states, "We are completely supportive of
Baz's vision. For 10 years Baz has nurtured the idea of doing this project. It was
consistent with his long-term aim of following his musicals with a series of films that,
in his words, would view an epic landscape through a new cinematic vocabulary."
Tom Rothman, co-chairman at Fox Studios, states, "We've been talking about this film
with Baz for years. A project of this magnitude needs the support of two studios that are
at the top of their game, and we all passionately endorse Baz' vision."
When Baz is asked why Alexander, he describes him as, "the world's first
rock star ... a fantastic freak of nature… Alexander succeeded in achieving his goals
beyond the scope of anyone's imagination, but achieving absolute success brought him
absolute failure." Variety reports that Luhrmann wants to make an epic film,
"the poetry of the landscape, as well as the epic battles, will be the stars of the
picture." Luhrmann also finds some relevance in the story, "at this moment in
history when we are desperately trying to figure out what's ahead, it is important to turn
to the lessons of the past."
24 July 2002
Variety reports that Baz Luhrmann and
producer Dino De Laurentiis believe they will "win the race" to make a film of Alexander
the Great, with the intention of starting filming in January 2003. Oliver Stone is
reported to start filming on his own Alexander film starring Colin Farrell on 16
October 2002 backed by Intermedia. His previous choice for the title role had been Heath
Ledger. Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese puts his version on hold to make a movie about Howard
Hughes with Leonardo DiCaprio.
As for Baz's ATG, the script has been written by Ted Tally based on novels by
Valerio Manfredi, and Baz is working with the screenwriter on developing the script.
Universal and 20th Century Fox are definitely backing the project, as well as Mohammed VI,
the King of Morocco. The King will contribute 1500 extras and also build a studio for the
production. Film budget is expected to exceed US$140 million. Baz has not yet cast anyone
as Alexander, but reports suggest that if the Scorsese and/or Stone versions are aborted,
one of the stars may cross over to Baz's film.
23 July 2002
Coming Soon! reports that Baz Luhrmann is in negotiations to direct Alexander the Great for Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox is in conversations to co-produce.
Early/Mid 2002
About.com posts online an interview with screenwriter Ted Tally, who penned the screenplay for ATG. This interview mainly deals with his other works, which gives us an insight into how he thinks as a writer. At the very end of Part 2, he is asked a couple of questions about ATG. He reveals that he's met and talked on the phone with Baz, but they haven't really worked closely yet, and they still have lots of revision to do. He then reveals that Baz will probably want more scenes of Alexander's childhood featured in the film. Finally, he is asked if he could have written the screenplay without Manfredi's books (on which the script is based), and he says that with a couple of years of research, he could have. He states that "doing a historical subject is an adaptation. You've got the plot and the characters."
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