Baz the Great! - News Archives

MAY 2006

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31 May 2006

Crowe no longer in Australian Epic

- There has now been confirmation that Russell Crowe will no longer star in Baz Luhrmann's Australian Epic. After a flurry of media speculation yesterday, Variety has today confirmed that Crowe has now departed from the project:

Inside Move: Crowe flies coop on Oz epic
Thesp leaves Luhrmann after studio spats
By Michael Fleming

What's going on with Baz Luhrmann's period Australian epic?

Russell Crowe, who said yes long ago to starring with Nicole Kidman in the drama for 20th Century Fox, departed last week after disagreements with the studio.

A report in the New York Post (both the tab and 20th are owned by Rupert Murdoch) said Heath Ledger had replaced Crowe, who was spurned when he tried to return to the pic. In fact, reps for the "Brokeback Mountain" star confirmed he had passed.

Kidman and Luhrmann are still attached to the project, which 20th is going forward with. It's unlikely Crowe will return, as studios were buzzing about his sudden late-year vacancy, the same as they did after the implosion of the Fox comedy "Used Guys" over a budget that went north of $110 million.

The development indicates the fragility of projects, no matter how hot the participants. Coming off "Moulin Rouge," Luhrmann was poised to direct an epic about Alexander the Great with producer Dino De Laurentiis. Unfortunately, he was beaten to the punch by director Oliver Stone and the project stopped in its tracks and robbed Luhrmann of several years' worth of momentum. Given the Crowe-Kidman epic was his comeback, the sudden leading-man loss can't be heartening to the filmmaker.

Crowe himself is not immune to experiencing canceled projects. He and Kidman last year were set to star in another all-Aussie effort, the Jocelyn Moorhouse-directed Fox drama "Eucalyptus." That film fell apart over creative differences.

Ironically, Crowe is preparing to star alongside Denzel Washington for director Ridley Scott in "American Gangster," a picture that was previously unplugged by Universal Pictures when Washington had a pay-or-play deal to star with Benicio Del ToroBenicio for director Antoine Fuqua.

Date in print: Wed., May 31, 2006, Los Angeles

This news is very disheartening indeed. Russell Crowe has always been a very outspoken supporter of the Australian Epic, and it is a shame he is no longer involved.

On a separate note, this article also confirms that Crowe has not been replaced by Heath Ledger. It reports that Ledger's representatives have said that he actually passed on the project, which implies the part was offered to him, but he did not take it.

The following article by Empire pretty much sums up the present situation, with a humorous edge that makes it all a little easier to take. Let us hope that Luhrmann can overcome this latest set back, and filming can still go ahead as planned some time next year.

Crowe Flies Luhrmann's Epic
Russell's out of Baz' next film
Source: Variety

Somebody fetch Baz Luhrmann a stiff drink. He’ll need it now that Russell Crowe has departed his planned Australian period epic.

The fickle fates of film, not content with robbing the Moulin Rouge helmer of a real shot at Alexander The Great (thanks, Oliver Stone, thanks), and throwing weather and finance-related delays in his path while planning his big comeback Aussie film, have now seen Russell Crowe leaving the movie, following disagreements with 20th Century Fox.

And the story gets even more tangled with tabloid The New York Post "revealing" that Heath Ledger had been cast to replace him, when the actor’s management told Variety that Ledger had already passed on the film.

What we do know at this point is that Luhrmann is unbowed and plans to press ahead with his epic, and that Nicole Kidman is still attached.

And this marks Crowe's second problem with an Australian film in as many years – only last year his creative differences with Fox drama Eucalyptus saw that film shut down. No phones were thrown in the making of this story.

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30 May 2006

Australian Epic - Ledger replacing Crowe?

- Today there has been a sudden media flurry surrounding Baz Luhrmann's Australian Epic, with the media speculating that Russell Crowe has been replaced by Australian actor, Heath Ledger. This afternoon, the following article appeared on Page Six in the New York Post:

Bluff Called
The reason Russell Crowe was replaced by Heath Ledger in the still-untitled Baz Luhrmann movie? The hot-tempered Oscar winner demanded script approval for the love story with Nicole Kidman set in the Australian outback prior to the Japanese bombardment of Darwin in 1942. The producers told Luhrmann to find another actor, and the director met several times with fellow Aussie Ledger. "Baz liked him and offered him the movie," said one source. "Then Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he'd forego script approval and wanted to do the movie, but they told him it was too late - to buzz off." Crowe's flack had no comment.

This was later followed by this article by The Daily Telegraph, which has been syndicated in various Australian newspapers:

Too pushy Crowe dumped

Oscar-winner Russell Crowe has reportedly been dumped from Baz Luhrmann's new $150 million epic in favour of Heath Ledger.

Crowe was to play Nicole Kidman's lover later this year in the film to be set around the Japanese bombing of Darwin in 1942.

But Crowe has been accused of demanding script approval before signing on for the film.

While he was procrastinating, the producers reportedly told Luhrmann to find another actor. The director then met Ledger several times. "Baz liked him and offered him the movie," a source told the New York Post yesterday.

"Then Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he'd forgo script approval and wanted to do the film, but they told him it was too late - to buzz off."

A spokeswoman for Luhrmann last night declined to deny or confirm the report.

"Baz doesn't publicly comment on his casting processes and currently he has made no final decision on the film, who is in it or when or where it will be shot," a spokeswoman said.

Crowe talked up his new role during the Australian Film Institute awards last November.

This article features a direct quote from Luhrmann's spokeswoman. However, her comment seems a bit evasive to me. It was only February when Luhrmann held a press conference regarding the Australian Epic and talked in detail about his plans for the epic, including where it would be shot, and that Crowe and Kidman looked set to be involved. I know the project has encountered difficulties during the last few months, and we are no longer sure exactly when the film will go ahead. However, Luhrmann has previously been enthusiastic about Crowe and Kidman's involvement, and so for his spokeswoman to say he does not publicly comment on his casting processes seems somewhat elusive. I wonder if perhaps there is some truth to this casting speculation, but they don't want to formally announce it yet?

If it is true that Crowe is no longer involved with the Australian Epic, I think it's a great shame, as Crowe has always been a very outspoken supporter of the project. As far as I know, script approval is a common thing for stars to request, especially A-listers. And I remember reading that earlier this year, Crowe read the script and loved it. So I don't see why the script would have become such a major issue now?

I suppose all we can do now is wait for further information to be announced. Hopefully Crowe will speak out? Or perhaps Luhrmann himself? Hopefully clarification will be forthcoming, but in the meantime all we can do is wait and see what happens next.

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27 May 2006

No News on Epic

- It's been well over a month since my last news update, but this is because there's been nothing to report! Everything has gone quiet regarding the project. I had hoped that Luhrmann would make some kind of statement, even if it's just to say the project is still in the pipeline, but has been put on hold. However, there has been no word from Luhrmann since 30 March 2006. Back then, he stated in an article by The Australian:

"To say that it is a complex and large-scale undertaking is an understatement and I cannot formally announce the project until all of the crucial elements are secure. Currently, they are not, and so it is true we've had to disengage some of our very loyal team. As soon as we are able to bring those crucial elements together I will be able to make a formal announcement concerning the starting date of the production, at which time it will also be named."

Luhrmann said this almost two months ago, and we are still waiting to hear from him. Let us hope he is simply working on rearranging the film to go ahead early next year, and sorting out any issues there may be, before making another announcement.

Bazmark Website Update

- Meanwhile, I am happy to report that 'Baz the Great' has now been linked to the official Bazmark website.

The official Bazmark website is quite basic. It simply features images of Luhrmann's major works, with links to external websites. The website they had linked for Something For Everybody went offline quite some time ago. However, at some point this month, the Bazmark team has kindly linked to my very own Something For Everybody page. Thank you, Bazmark! :)

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