APRIL 2005
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14 April 2005
Australian romantic epic next for Baz?
- News of Baz Luhrmann's next possible project has quickly spread across the internet over the past couple of days and, no, it's not Alexander the Great. Instead, it has been reported that Luhrmann may make an Australian-set romantic period epic. The original source was an article from The Hollywood Reporter, which reads as follows:
Beattie penning Luhrmann epic
(the vine)
By Liza Foreman
13 April 2005
"Australian screenwriter Stuart Beattie, who offered moviegoers a new view of Los Angeles in "Collateral," is returning to more familiar turf and will pen an Australian-set period epic for helmer Baz Luhrmann.
The project, a romance, is being kept under wraps. It looks, however, as if it could be part of a new trio of films that Luhrmann envisions.
The director famously dubbed his three musical films - 1992's "Strictly Ballroom," 1996's "Romeo + Juliet" and 2001's "Moulin Rouge" - his Red Curtain trilogy. He then began talking about a trilogy of epics, which would include his film about the life of Alexander the Great as well as a Russian epic and an Australian epic.
Luhrmann had been developing "Alexander" as a starring vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, but that film now appears to have been shelved.
Luhrmann - who has close relations with 20th Century Fox and is repped by ICM - has not said what film he will tackle next, though he has begun meeting with actors about the various film projects he has in mind, and the Australian epic appears to be among the active possibilities.
Beattie, who is repped by Innovative Artists, has written such films as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" as well as such upcoming projects as "Derailed," "30 Days of Night" and "Truce," which Vadim Perelman is directing for Warner Independent Pictures."
According to this article, Luhrmann is considering making another romantic movie
as his next feature. This news leads me to believe that he is finding it difficult to leave behind his Red Curtain style
of film making. After Moulin Rouge, there was La Boheme and the Chanel
No. 5 commercial, and now news of an Australian romantic epic. Could it be he's having trouble letting go?
;-)
It is great to see the author of the above article has done her research and speaks of both the Red Curtain trilogy and the planned historical epic trilogy. But, what's this? She reports this Australian romance could be part of a new trio of films? This is where I have become somewhat confused. Since completing Moulin Rouge, Luhrmann has talked about changing direction altogether and moving on to a trilogy of historical epics, beginning with Alexander the Great. However, if he is now considering a romantic epic, does this mean Luhrmann has decided to stay with his romantic themes after all?
The Australian media was quick to catch on to this latest Luhrmann news, and The Australian reported the following article:
Luhrmann to try luck with period drama
Lawrie Zion
14 April 2005
"With his proposed film about Alexander the Great looking increasingly unlikely to be made, Baz Luhrmann appears to be considering following Moulin Rouge with a romantic period drama set in Australia.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the screenplay will be written by the Los Angeles-based Australian Stuart Beattie, who also wrote the recent thriller Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx.
Luhrmann was unavailable for comment last night, but the report said he had begun meeting with actors about various film projects, and the untitled Australian epic, which is being compared to Gone With The Wind, appears to be among the possibilities.
Reports last July suggested that Luhrmann's Alexander movie had been "temporarily suspended" so he could spend more time with his family, and the Australian director has never specifically said he has abandoned the project.
But Luhrmann is maintaining his silence on the prospect of its revival."
This article was sourced from the above Hollywood Reporter article, and yet it goes one step further and compares the film to Gone with the Wind. This certainly wasn't mentioned in the original source! I can only assume a reporter has decided to make the comparison because the film is said to be a "period-epic". I don't know about making such a comparison based on no further information than a basic description of "Australian-set period-epic". I don't think we can really make such assumptions without further information.
And yes, as has been widely speculated, it seems the Alexander the Great project may have indeed been cast aside - for now. However, at least this article, unlike many others, does correctly state that Luhrmann has never specifically said he has abandoned the project. Meanwhile, the wait continues for a quote from Luhrmann himself about his plans for his next feature.
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