Last updated: 2 February 2012

This page provides a summary of movie information.
For all the latest 'Gatsby' news, visit my News Updates page.

The first two official photos were released by Warner Brothers on 14 December 2011:

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Estimated Budget: AU$120 million

Studio: Warner Brothers

Production Companies: Bazmark Films and Red Wagon

Director/Producer: Baz Luhrmann

Producers: Catherine Martin, Catherine Knapman, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher

Executive Producers: Barrie M. Osborne, Bruce Berman

Screenplay: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
(based on the famous book by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Editors: Jason Ballantine, Matt Villa, Jonathan Redmond

Director of Photography: Simon Duggan

Production and Costume Design: Catherine Martin

Art Director: Ian Gracie

Filming Info: The film will be shot in 3D, and released in 2D and 3D by Warner Brothers Pictures and in selected territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Filming Dates: Filming began on 5 September 2011 at Fox Studios Australia. The shoot finished on 22 December 2011, but pick-up shots were filmed for around two weeks at the beginning of February 2012.
Post production will then take place during most of 2012.

Release Date: 25 or 26 December 2012

Story: (from Collider.com)
'The Great Gatsby' follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the
captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a
mirror to our own modern times and struggles ... A novel of lyrical beauty yet brutal realism, of magic, romance, and mysticism, 'The Great Gatsby' is one of the great classics of twentieth-century literature.

Locations: Fox Studios Australia, and also at locations in and around Sydney and Eastern New South Wales, Australia, including the abandoned Rozelle Power Station (above), which was transformed in late October 2011 into a set recreating Fitzgerald's 'Valley of the Ashes', St Patrick's College in Manly (below), which was transformed into Jay Gatsby's Long Island Mansion in November 2011, and Sydney's Centennial Park and Glebe Island.

Location Background: After months of speculation, on 20 February 2011, the media reported that Baz Luhrmann had signed off on a production deal with the New South Wales State Government to film The Great Gatsby in Sydney. It had been expected that Luhrmann might shoot the movie in New York, where the legendary tale is based. However, production of The Great Gatsby is based at Sydney's Fox Studios and will be the first 3D live action movie to be shot in New South Wales. Fox Studios is the same location that was used for Moulin Rouge! and also parts of Luhrmann's most recent film, Australia.

CAST AND CREW

Jay Gatsby - Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio was connected to this film from the very beginning when the movie was still a rumour. He will star as the enigmatic title character, a mysterious millionaire whose life revolves around his undying love for Daisy Buchanan.
On 8 September 2011, The Daily Telegraph posted the first photo of Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby (above).

Young Jay Gatsby - Callan McAuliffe
On 21 August 2011, The Daily Telegraph revealed that Sydney teenager McAuliffe had been cast as the young Jay Gatsby.

Nick Carraway - Tobey Maguire
Along with DiCaprio, Maguire was connected to this film from the very beginning. He will star as the narrator of the film, Gatsby's next door neighbour, who interprets the story by narrating his own version of events.

Daisy Buchanan - Carey Mulligan
Interestingly, despite DiCaprio and Maguire being connected to the film from the beginning, Mulligan was the first cast member that Baz Luhrmann officially announced on his website. On 15 November 2010, Luhrmann made a statement on his website that he had cast Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby's love interest.

"Regarding the role of Daisy Buchanan, I was privileged to explore the character with some of the world's most talented actresses, each one bringing their own particular interpretation. However, specific to this particular production of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, I was thrilled to pick up the phone an hour ago to the young Oscar-nominated British actress Carey Mulligan and say to her: "Hello, Daisy Buchanan" - Baz Luhrmann

Rumours: Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall, Keira Knightley, Blake Lively, Abbie Cornish, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Eva Green, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Wilde, Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson were all considered to play the role of Daisy Buchanan. Apparently, Johansson was Luhrmann's first choice, but she was unavailable due to another film she had already committed too.

Jordan Baker - Elizabeth Debicki
Newcomer Debicki was the second cast member that Baz Luhrmann officially announced on his website. On 11 May 2011, Luhrmann made a statement on his website that he had cast Australian newcomer Debicki as Jordan Baker, famous golfer and aloof love interest of narrator Nick Carraway.

"It was a surprising result, but Elizabeth's grasp of the material and her chemical connectivity to Tobey Maguire, in addition to her striking, athletic appearance, had us in a place where we were fully confident and ready to take the leap of giving the role of Jordan Baker to what, I guess, people would term 'a discovery.' We are thrilled. As each role in Gatsby is cast, we seek, in the most dramatic way, to clarify each of Fitzgerald's characters, one against the other." - Baz Luhrmann

Tom Buchanan - Joel Edgerton
On 15 May 2011, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Joel Edgerton and Luke Evans had both recently read for the character of Tom Buchanan, Daisy's vengeful husband. On 17 May 2011, Deadline reported that Joel Edgerton had been cast in the role and reported the following quote from Luhrmann:

"In casting Tom one had to find an actor who could credibly be (as Fitzgerald describes him) 'one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven,' had five-star acting chops and in the big dramatic showdown scenes between Gatsby and Tom, hold the screen against Leonardo DiCaprio, in the appropriate age group. Any wonder, it has been a long and thorough journey. The simple truth is that Joel came into our rehearsal space in New York and fulfilled all of the above criteria, and then some." - Baz Luhrmann

Alternate Casting: On 7 April 2011, Deadline reported that Ben Affleck was "in talks" to play Tom Buchanan. However, on 19 April 2011, Deadline reported that Ben Affleck would not play Tom Buchanan, due to scheduling conflicts with another film he had already committed too. It was also reported that Baz Luhrmann was now looking for an Australian actor to fill the role. Edgerton was then cast just a few weeks later.

Myrtle Wilson - Isla Fisher
On 19 April 2011, Deadline reported that Australian actress Isla Fisher was "in talks" to play Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan's mistress. Her casting was later confirmed by her inclusion on the official cast list on featurefilmauditions.com. On 25 August 2011, she was spotted on set in hair and make-up (above).

Catherine Wilson - Gemma Ward
Around 29 August 2011, it was reported that Gemma Ward had been cast. Her character was unknown, but The New York Observer started a rumour that it might be Catherine, Myrtle Wilson's sister, and in late October 2011, the IMDb posted Ward's role as that of Catherine. In late November 2011, a photo of her in costume was circulated.

George Wilson - Jason Clarke
On 13 June 2011, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Australian actor Jason Clarke had been cast in the role of George Wilson, Myrtle's husband.

Meyer Wolfsheim - Amitabh Bachchan
On 7 September 2011, The Hollywood Reporter and also other sources such as SAWF News confirmed that Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan had been cast. On the same date, Times of India reported that Warner Brothers have confirmed Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim, a figure from the world of organised crime who helps millionaire Jay Gatsby make his money.
On 12 September 2011, Times of India quoted Bachchan as saying: "My participation in Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby is a mere one scene appearance as a friendly gesture ... I have refused any remuneration".

Casting Correction: On 23 August 2011,  The Daily Telegraph reported that Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan had been cast. However, it was later confirmed that the correct actor was Amitabh Bachchan.

Ewing Klipspringer - Brendan Maclean
On 1 September 2011, Pedestrian.tv reported that Australian radio presenter Brendan Maclean had been cast as "soulless Gatsby hanger-on", Klipspringer

Other Cast Members:

Jack Thompson
On 20 August 2011, The Daily Telegraph revealed that Jack Thompson had been cast, although it is not known which character he will play.

For full casting details, visit 'The Great Gatsby' page
on the Internet Movie Database.

Extras:

On 6 September 2011, The Daily Telegraph reported that Australian model Alice Burdeu (pictured above) would play a party hostess, which is a not a speaking role, but said to be a meaty "featured extra" part. Another Australian model, Laura Gorun, will play a 1920s party girl.

On 9 September 2011, The West Australian reported that Australian actor Felix Williamson, star of Aussie television series Underbelly: Razor and stepson of playwright David Williamson, had been cast in a small role in The Great Gatsby. He is quoted as saying, "I'm in The Great Gatsby, playing a Frenchman, Henri, and that's about all I can say. A period piece set in 1922, it's an extraordinary story, a beautifully developed script."

In August 2011, featurefilmauditions.com posted online details of auditions and casting calls for minor roles in The Great Gatsby. Congratulations to everyone who was lucky enough to get a role!
(And feel free to e-mail me with your Gatsby experience!)

OFFICIAL BAZMARK INFORMATION

So far, the official Bazmark website has only posted the following limited movie information. There has been no update since 17 May 2011:
(All additional movie information that I have posted on this website has been provided by various other media sources)

17 May 2011 (actual posting date 19 May 2011) - Bazmark's website announced that the role of Tom Buchanan in the The Great Gatsby will be played by Joel Edgerton. Luhrmann said:

"In casting Tom one had to find an actor who could credibly be (as Fitzgerald describes him) 'one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven,' had five-star acting chops and in the big dramatic showdown scenes between Gatsby and Tom, hold the screen against Leonardo DiCaprio, in the appropriate age group. Any wonder, it has been a long and thorough journey. The simple truth is that Joel came into our rehearsal space in New York and fulfilled all of the above criteria, and then some."

11 May 2011 - Bazmark's website announced that the role of Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby will be played by Australian newcomer, Elizabeth Debicki. Luhrmann said:

"It was a surprising result, but Elizabeth's grasp of the material and her chemical connectivity to Tobey Maguire, in addition to her striking, athletic appearance, had us in a place where we were fully confident and ready to take the leap of giving the role of Jordan Baker to what, I guess, people would term 'a discovery.' We are thrilled. As each role in Gatsby is cast, we seek, in the most dramatic way, to clarify each of Fitzgerald's characters, one against the other."

2 May 2011 - "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event" was broadcast by MTV.com online, which celebrated the 10 year anniversary of Moulin Rouge!. Questions were also asked about The Great Gatsby. The following are snippets from an article on MTV.com:

"This is a perfectly structured novella and therefore a very good film is yet to be made that is exactly like the novella, to use the primary elements of the novella," he said. "So I thought, I really want to do this, and then took some time but finally bought the rights to it." It was the way the story of Nick, Daisy and Gatsby resonates with audiences now as well as his love of the book that really drew Luhrmann to the project. "I feel the story of 'Gatsby' speaks so directly to what we have just gone through."

The idea to adapt the novel came after he finished "Moulin Rouge" in the early 2000s and then was stuck on a long train ride through China. He only had two audiobooks with him, and one of them was "Gatsby," so he ended up listening to that. He described re-hearing the book as "an incredible experience" that convinced him the story just has not been told right on the big screen. As to whether or not the movie will actually be shot in 3-D, though, Luhrmann was hesitant. "First of all I'd have to say yes," he said. "I mean, it's something where if I was, I would love to talk about it. When I do, I want to have something to say. Right now, really clearly, I'm just bringing those pieces together."

16 March 2011 - The Daily Telegraph reported that Bazmark Films advised them over the telephone, "The Great Gatsby will commence preproduction in Sydney in late May as planned."

12 March 2011 - New York Magazine posted an article where the reporter actually spoke to Baz Luhrmann about The Great Gatsby. Luhrmann confirmed he is doing The Great Gatsby, but not right now. He also said, "Despite what might be out there, I have made no comment about anything. So until I say it, it's not said, you know."

10 December 2010 - Anton Monsted, General Manager of Bazmark, posted the following information on the Bazmark website (with a link to material):

In an interview with Mandi Bierly of Entertainment Weekly, Baz Luhrmann stated the following: 

"Genuine audience participation...is a really healthy thing in the creation of a work. This list is what we've read. Go read that, and help me. If you want to have a point of view, get informed, and let's try and make the best interpretation for today."

In response to this, we have printed the research material that Baz and his team have been drawing from. It is early in the process, so no doubt the list will grow, and we welcome any suggestions or additional material that anyone interested in engaging in the creative journey would like to send in.

15 February 2010 - Baz Luhrmann made his first official statement regarding The Great Gatsby, where he announced the casting of Daisy Buchanan. On his Bazmark website, he said:

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