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He just paid tribute to his home country in the epic Australia, but director Baz Luhrmann is landing next on Long Island. Yes, it's true: I can report that Baz Luhrmann's next project is definitely 
The Great Gatsby. The Aussie filmmaker recently purchased rights to the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic and my favorite book, which is set primarily on the lush North Shore (aka the Gold Coast) where I grew up in East Egg. Thankfully, Baz should wipe away memories of that 1974 abomination with Robert Redford and the horribly miscast Mia Farrow, or the 1949 laugher with Alan Ladd. (And let's not forget that Entourage just cast Vincent Chase as Nick in Marty Scorsese's version.) My insiders confirm that Luhrmann is actively searching for a young actress to portray Daisy, Jay Gatsby’s unrequited love. I think Amy Adams fills the bill (because, mercifully, box office poison Nicole Kidman is too old). Forget my suggestion of Paul Rudd for Nick because he played that part in an A&E version I never saw. As for Gatsby himself, Baz's Romeo & Juliet leading man Leonardo DiCaprio if he doesn't break the budget. Or James Marsden on the cheap. Other names?
EXCLUSIVE: Baz Luhrmann Going 'Gatsby'
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Sigh…So now F. Scott Fitzgerald is the new Jane Austen…..I had always thought Jay Gatsby should be played by Brad Pitt but….oh well..Baz Luhrmann will surely crank up the lushness and opulence of this story
Amy Adams I agree. But also I think Rose Byrne would be perfect.
Who’s adapting?
Does this mean we can look forward to a TOLDJA! post once Variety announces it? Yeesh.
Enough with Amy Adams, though. She’s the NEW Nicole Kidman, getting every major female role. Hollywood’s tunnel vision with regards to casting is depressing. Why can’t SAG do anything about THAT?
Hmm… Paul Rudd? It certainly wouldn’t fit his new man-child comedy niche.
no no no….10 yrs ago, it should have been ray liotta, see gatsby is supposed to look like a romantic hero, but when he opens his mouth he’s from hoboken NJ, he is lower class, he sounds like a gangster….who tries to move up in the world to win daisy, the perennial east coast socialite….that is the conflict, obviously redford couldn’t hack that, and alan ladd was awful too. Perhaps its time to go african american with gatsby!
boo baby luv, paul rudd WAS nick in the a&e mow
Brad is too old looking now.
On Entourage, Vince Chase just landed the role of Nick in a Martin Scorsese remake of Gatsby, right? Gatsby is all the rage.
What? I thought Scorcese was directing, Vinnie Chase was starring and they were setting it in the upper west side. Damn, next thing you’ll tell me is that I should stop hoping for the Aquaman 2 Blue-Ray DVD starring Jake Gyllenhaal to be underneath the Christmas tree next Thursday. Thanks Nikki or maybe I should say Scrooge?
BTW what’s all this nonsense about Ari Gold having mercury poisoning?
James McAvoy might make an interesting Gatsby, although I can DEFINITELY see James Marsden.
And Paul Rudd would have an interesting time playing Nick again Baz style…
I love Amy Adams, but you know they’ll offer it to Kate Winslet.
Simon Baker would be the perfect Gatsby, but since he is now on a dreaded “TV” show I guess that makes him poisonous. Therefore, since casting is all about obsession instead of balance, Christian Bale has probably already signed on.
The 1974 “The Great Gatsby” was directed by Jack Clayton (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071577/) with script by Francis Ford Coppola. Check out the 1949 version (Directed by Elliot Nugent scripted by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum), albeit with the sexuality watered down by the Production Code of the time and by it’s star, Alan Ladd, who made a perfect Gatsby other than the fact that he wouldn’t take off his wedding ring, protested about kissing actress Betty Field who played Daisy because he claimed that “Alan Ladd doesn’t kiss married women”!!
ryan gosling as gatsby; natalie portman as daisy; james mcavoy as nick
James Franco
DiCaprio is way too old to play Gatsby. He’s supposed to be 25, for crying out loud.
Simon Baker…Brad Pitt…Christian Bale…all these names that are being thrown around are simply too old.
Pump some new names into the mix and call in some fresh blood. Younger actors with breathtaking talent.
After all, Nick Carraway was 29 and Daisy was in her late 20’s.
I love the James McAvoy/Amy Adams.
Sorry, but Amy Adams is not the type of girl a man would design his entire life around. She also doesn’t have the flippant cruelty of a Daisy. Maybe Charlize Theron? Kate Winslett? Matt Damon for Gatsby? Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Ethan Hawke for Nick?
Ryan Gosling would be a great Nick
Clooney as Gatsby and Matt Damon as Nick.
Call it Gatsby’s 11 and they con Daisy out of her money….
Good God, I don’t think there could be a worse match between director and material. Luhrmann is way too stylized for this kind of story.
Leonardo DiCaprio is too boyish to play Gatsby, and I doubt he’d be willing to be the barely seen figure in the distance Gatsby is for the about the first 1/3 of the movie. He might make a good Nick Carraway.
It’s a tricky book to adapt, because it’s very hard to cast. It needs young actors in their late 20s to early 30s, but very few in that range have the dramatic weight to pull it off.
What about James Franco as Gatsby? And Anne Hathaway would be a good Daisy.
I’m thrilled by this announcement- have been reading a fantastic bio on Fitzgerald’s editor as well. Robert Pattinson, Patrick Wilson or Chris Evans for Jay, James McAvoy or Tobey Maguire for Nick, Keira Knightly or Amy Adams for Daisy…though there has to be someone else out there that is more of an unknown that is right for Daisy…
My only reaction is Why? Do we really need another Gatsby remake? And Luhrman is way to over the top in his style to direct this. I guess we do need another Gatsby remake because Luhrman is still trying to win an Oscar and a gorgeously filmed literary adaptation is the best way to do that. Jesus Christ.
Neil Patrick Harris as Gatsby
Nick – Ryan Gosling
Daisy – Abbie Cornish
of course as sag sinks hollywood……your instinct is a “name’…..the movie doesn’t need a name……it is a name!!!!!!
f scott deserves talent……..and daisy should be an unknown who has that rare commodity ..talent……….yes ……a 20 year old meryle streep………
“see gatsby is supposed to look like a romantic hero, but when he opens his mouth he’s from hoboken NJ, he is lower class, he sounds like a gangster…”
the only person i can think of who fits that description today is mark wahlberg. and he would be a horrible gatsby.
Christian Bale = Gatsby
Elizabeth Banks, Natalie Portman, James Franco, James Marsden…I like those choices.
I think Shia LaBeouf and Miley Cyrus fill the bill, myself.
I watched the 74 version recently. Some miscasting (Farrow, yes, but also Karen Black), but the real culprit is Coppola’s botched adaptation. Tough book to crack, because the dramatic climax comes well before the end. Good luck, Baz. . . .
The Aussie filmmaker recently purchased rights to the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic…
Why did Baz Luhrmann waste his money???
The Great Gatsby is already in public domain in many countries (Canada, Luhrmann’s home country of Australia, etc.). For the remaining countries (including the U.S. and most of Europe), it goes into public domain just over a year from now in 2010. (Fitzgerald died in 1940, and copyright protects the work for “life, plus 70 years”.)
As long as the film isn’t completed and released before the date of Fitzgerald’s death in 2010, there was no reason for him to have paid for the rights to the book. (Since I assume it will take over a year to develop, produce and release his next film project, copyright shouldn’t be a problem in this instance.)
Austin Nichols of John From Cincinnati for Nick. He’s got the right look.
The A&E version was good. You should see it.
Anyone who knows Baz knows that he has many “next projects” that never see the light of day. Remember the Hughes project with Kidman? I’ve seen three of Baz’s movies and, quite frankly, was left severely underwhelmed. Lots of spectacle. No substance. No different to Michael Bay really. And I think brainstorming stars for this movie is putting the cart before the horse considering you said he just got the rights. He hasn’t even written a script or gotten it approved yet.
Amy Adams + blonde dye job =~ Grace Kelly, which would be PERFECT for Daisy.
And Pitt or DiCaprio are the obvious choices for Gatsby, but in a fit of national pride, I would say Baz would go with Hugh Jackman.. Perhaps have Russell Crowe play Tom…
James Franco owns this thread.
But Gatsby’s not from Joisey, he’s from North Dakota. He’s the son of Eastern Europeans, possibly Jewish. Jimmy Gatz, who served in the Army and became a bootlegger. Some people claim that Max von Gerlach was the inspiration.
Dammit, this sucks. Here’s yet another great classic (Romeo plus-sign Juliet) he’s going to f*** up.
what about RACHEL MCADAMS? she is back at Hollywood doing films, she could be great
oh my God, put Ryan Gosling and Rachel Mcadams together again. Someone cast them!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmy Kimmel for Gatsby. Frankie Muniz for Nick. Vanessa Hudgens for Daisy.
James Franco would be a great Gatsby.
But let’s be honest with ourselves. Luhrmann doesn’t have the chops to pull this film off.
How about Ron Livingston?
Please, NOT DiCaprio. No matter how old he gets, he always looks twelve years old.
Brad Pitt as Gatsby and no he’s not too old. Gatsby’s age is not stated in the book but he’s NOT 25 years old. He’s likely early 30s.
I don’t see Leo at all as Gatsby. Marsden? No.
Everyone said that Mia was terrible but I don’t think she was that horrible . . . but it’s not an easy role to play.
Amy Adams? Not in love with that. I didn’t think she brought anything to Doubt.
Nicole would have been good but she is in fact too old now.
Frankly, it would be great to see a newcomer as Gatsby b/c that jives with his character. Who is he? Where did he come from? That’s the mystery of the character.
Anyway, it’s not an easy movie to cast nor execute so it will be interesting.
Rachel McAdams would be a good Daisy. What about Lee Pace for Nick? I like him in Pushing Daisies, but he was also great opposite Amy Adams in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
January Jones or Michelle Williams as Daisy.
F. Scott seems to be the rage these days but enough about Gatsby. Why not a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his southern belle wife Zelda? Now there’s a movie if not two or three.
Jon Hamm as Nick — there’s nobody better
can’t be done… in my own opinion, this is a waste of time and money…. sure, the themes of gatsby are universal… but… it is a uniquely American story… I think it is an injustice to take it out of the American context… Many great films have riffed on its themes, ala American Beauty… But a film version is ripe for a disaster….. at least get someone cool, like Jack Nicholson or Jay-z to play Jay Gats.
All you literati will hate me for this post or seeing someone like Jay-z in this film… oh well…
Oh I agree with Mara..just bring back the cast of The Notebook…Gosling as Gatsby, McAdams as Daisy, Mardsen as Nick.
I see Rufus Wainwright as Gatsby.
Rachel McAdams would be a good Daisy, not so crazy about Amy Adams – maybe Romola Garai? Patrick Wilson might be good as Gatsby also, or even Nick. What I’m really not sure about however is Baz Luhrmann as director! If he casts Nicole, so help me…!
I agree Amy Adams is adorable, but she’s also about 35, a little old for Daisy. How about Ellen Page?
What about Casey Affleck?
Brad Pitt as Gatsby, Katherine Heigl as Daisy. She definitely is the kind of woman a man would design his life around. Mia Farrow was too mousy and just not sexy or exciting. And for Nick, maybe Jake Gyllenhal (spelling)? I don’t care if they’re older (Pitt); Hollywood makes up its own age stuff anyway, older, younger, whatever. They certainly don’t follow the script. Brad Pitt is the most PERFECT Gatsby ever. Angelina also would be a perfect Daisy; she can play vulnerable, cold, soft, hard, temptress, whatever.
Gatsby = Scott Caan
Daisy = Paris Hilton
Nick = Brody Jenner
Myrtle Wilson = Tara Reid
George Wilson = Eminem
Tom Buchanan = Spencer Pratt
TMZ will love it.
January Jones suggestion was real good.
when is the studio going to stop wasting their money on Baz. Don’t you get it… BAZ is a Bore
What about John Krasinski for Nick, Elisabeth Moss for Daisy, and definitely James Franco for Gatsby? Or on the other end of the spectrum, let’s just put in those ridiculously good-looking kids form Gossip Girl. Chuck Bass as Gatsby…
Amy Adams needs to show us she’s an actress and stop choosing identical guileless, naive roles. “Junebug”-”Doubt”-”Miss Pettigrew”-”Enchanted” … all variations on the same character– and not very varying
Ms. McAdams is a good choice.
I don’t think there’s a problem aging the characters slightly … It’s more about their stage in life. In the 20s, a 25-year-old was a helluva lot older than a 25-year-old today. The writer / director may need to compensate by up-aging.
Jon Hamm as Nick, I agree with that.
Joaquin Phoenix as Gatsby.
Elizabeth Banks as Daisy.
Its cast a bit old. Its a movie. With a younger cast, it seems like another basic-cable deal.
I think January Jones would make a great Daisy, there’s something very Daisy-esque about her Mad Men character and she pulls it off very well.
The problem is the main characters in the book are relatively young…about 30 and younger. So you’d need actors who could credibly play in that age range and still make the movie good.
There aren’t that many actors in that age group who could (a) populate the major roles in the film; (b) make the film a critical success; and (c) make the movie a commercial success.
I think the female roles would be easier to cast than the male roles…Amy Adams, Rachel McAdams, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, etc.
Fitzgerald never cared much for the title “The Great Gatsby” and hoped to call the book “Trimalchio in West Egg.” In a famous letter to his editor, Max Perkins, Fitzgerald vowed that if “The Great Gatsby” didn’t sell well, he would move to Hollywood and learn the screen trade. Sadly, that’s exactly what happened. The initial printing of Gatsby was small and the sales were lukewarm. Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood and died without witnessing Gatsby’s ultimate success.
For someone who loves the book you sure cast badly.
Emile Hirsch for Nick.
James Marsden and Elizabeth Banks!!!
They were great together in Heights
or James Marsden and Amy Adams
January Jones for Daisy
The only way I would see a remake of this movie is if Amy Adams were cast in it. Or maybe with a cast of unknowns.
In the tradition of The Wiz…
Denzel as Gatsby. Halle as Daisy. and Will Smith as Nick.
Set it in 1920s Harlem…
The Great Gatzby!
can you tell me if there’s one role that fits Nicole here?
Thanks
Wrong book. Baz should do The Master and Margarita. What a great match of director and material that would be!
They should just leave it alone; no film has ever come remotely close to “cracking” the novel, because everything about it that makes it so special is uniquely a “literary” aesthetic experience. The actual plot and dialogue are “slim” at best (if you’re looking to make a movie); it’s the interior and atmosphere of Fitzgerald’s delicate, gossamer prose that never survives the concreteness of film. That’s why the 1974 version blew: they just focused on the wealth and scope, trying to “flesh” it out.
But you’re wrong about Alan Ladd — he was actually perfect as Gatsby: looked like a movie star, but was rough and tumble underneath. Too bad they didn’t go with Nicholson or McQueen back in ‘74, as originally planned — Redford is just…hilarious as Gatsby (who would ever believe “Pretty Boy” was a gangster???).
This is my favorite book also. Just finished reading it again, after I don’t know how many times. A rare quality in any written work, that magnetism that draws you back again and again. No film will ever do it justice. Any director must remember that Nick is the lead character.
The Great Gatsby is already in public domain in many countries (Canada, Luhrmann’s home country of Australia, etc.). For the remaining countries (including the U.S. and most of Europe), it goes into public domain just over a year from now in 2010. (Fitzgerald died in 1940, and copyright protects the work for “life, plus 70 years”.)
Under current US copyright law, works published between 1923 and 1963, assuming they were properly copyrighted in the first place, remain under copyright for 95 years from the publication date. So, while it is PD in Australia already (which is why the full text is available for free download for several Australia-based web sites), Gatsby does not enter PD in the United States until April 10, 2020.
The “life plus 70″ rule applies to works published after 1977.
See http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/ for a full table of current copyright terms.
this gatsby would be great if luhrmann didn’t get a hold of him.
OMG, Brotha Jones, your idea is brilliant! Barry, Smith, Denzel. Great idea for a remake. I would certainly watch it.
So, while it is PD in Australia already… Gatsby does not enter PD in the United States until April 10, 2020.
To briefly correct myself, copyright expires at the end of the calendar year, not on the anniversary date of publication. Sorry for the error.
Gatsby therefore does not enter the United States public domain until January 1, 2021.
Obviously Blake Lively! She’s got that plummy rich-girl thing down pat.
Needs to be a young man. So many of the names are way too old.
Robert Pattinson for Gatsby
Robert Pattinson for either Nick or Jay !
Gatsby: Jon Hamm
Nick: Lee Pace (a brilliant suggestion!)
Daisy: Rachel McAdams
Myrtle Wilson: Samantha Morton
George Wilson: Giovanni Ribisi
Tom Buchanan: Ewan McGregor
Jordan Baker: Alexa Davalos
Jon Hamm as Gatsby
Scarlett Johansen as Daisy
Emile Hirsch as Nick
Way to go ron livingston – nothing like self promotion! LMAO
I was wondering how many agents were putting in their two cents flinging off client names! Give you points for saying “f&^k it let me throw my hat in the ring too!” Good luck to ya!
Rachel MCadams is too old nnd has no sex appeal. Scarlett Johansson would be great.
robert pattinson
Michael Rappaport. James Franco. Ryan Gosling. Gabrial Macht, Liev Streiber Aaron Ekhart, Ewan McGreggor? I bet it’s Ewan McGreggor.
Let his have Kangaroos getting shot in it too
Gretchen Mol as Daisy
Paul Bettany as Nick
Jon Hamm as Gatsby
Scarlet Johannsen is the only one you could imagine in the role of Daisy and Leo as Gatsby. Dynamite!
If the man who put Nirvana in “Moulin Rouge” and set Romeo and Juliet in modern Miami (or wherever) is making “Gatsby,” I can’t wait. Amy Adams as Daisy? Hah! I’m guessing he’ll cast Pink or Brittany Spears, and cast Mos Def as Gatsby. And btw, I think all that’s a good thing. FSF adaptations have always suffered from way too much reverence. They need someone like Luhrmann. “Hello Old Sport, I’m Gatsby.” Cue the gangsta rap.
First of all several of you are quoting ages of the characters in the book. Fitzgerald never gives anyones age, but because of the time breakdown and event mentioned it is assumed that gatsby is actually between 27 to 30 years old, Daisy is about 25, and Nick is around 27 or 28. Also, Gatsby should NOT have a Hoboken accent instead of the upper crust accent of the rich. He should have an affected “educated” speech that will ocassionally slip into mid-western sounds. He is from the mid-west but part of his journey for Daisy is to completely erase his past life and that includes “Practicing elocution” as he stated in his boyhood journal. Trust me I have been teaching this book to High School Juniors for 7 years!
WEll, actually in the book it does mention Nick’s age, he is 29, and then he has his 30th birthday.
Scarlet Johansen and Ryan Reynolds
Before we cast, should we have given this to Baz in the first place? Are we likely to get Gatsby, the musical (with or without music)? How in the world is he ever going to restrain himself with this most restrained of american novels? I might let him to Tender, but Gatsby? Oh boy…
I’ll probably throw something if Scarlett Johanssen is cast as Daisy. I have yet to see her take on a role that’s proven her to be anything more than a pretty face and I’d like to see proof of legitimate talent before she takes on a role like this.
Gatsby: James Marsden, possibly Ryan Gosling?
Nick: Lee Pace
Daisy: January Jones or Abbie Cornish
Jordan: Keira Knightley
Let’s not have anyone play any of the characters. I foresee another movie making mincemeat of a great book.
The only bright side would be that a movie would get more people to read the novel, but most people will see the shitty movie and think that they then know the novel.
I’m not a fan of Scarlett Johansen’s acting so it depresses me to say this, but my first thought before reading any of the similar comments, was that she’ll be cast as Daisy. Quinn is right it needs to be a woman men would do anything for, even die for. Amy Adams does NOT fit the bill. I don’t get that at all.
January Jones could be a great Daisy, and cristina hendricks a great jordan Baker
Second the James Franco pitch…I miss seeing him around…
And I miss seeing more original ideas…come on people! Am I the only one who’s sick of seeing the same crowd on the screen?
(sigh)
Sorry, I just can’t play along. Gatsby is too dear to me to not kick and scream at the mention of Baz being even slightly involved.
Just awful.
I’m loving the January Jones idea, I didn’t even think of her! She’s starting to really break out too, with Mad Men and the Golden Globe nomination…
How about this cast close-minded people.
Gatsby = Will Smith
Daisy = Nia Long
Nick = Jamie Fox
Myrtle Wilson = Rosario Dawson
George Wilson = Forrest Whitaker
Tom Buchanan = Denzel Washington
The family living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will love it.
But Gatsby’s not from Joisey, he’s from North Dakota.
Have any’a y’all even read the book?
Gatsby’s not from either. He and Daisy are both migrants up out of Louisville, Kentucky. (Not that Cloony would be a good fit or that they’d still have accents, but there are a few flashback moments that should have the Churchill Downs spires in the background if they make it into the final edit.)
Gatsby is 31 or 32 according to Nick. Here is Nick’s descrption upon meeting him at the party: “He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished—and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care.”
Does this sound like DiCaprio to you? I wouldn’t let him within 5 yards of the role myself.
“no no no….10 yrs ago, it should have been ray liotta, see gatsby is supposed to look like a romantic hero, but when he opens his mouth he’s from hoboken NJ, he is lower class, he sounds like a gangster….who tries to move up in the world to win daisy, the perennial east coast socialite….that is the conflict, obviously redford couldn’t hack that, and alan ladd was awful too. Perhaps its time to go african american with gatsby!”
Gatsby wasn’t really a gangster – he just dealt with gangsters. And he was originally from the Midwest (North Dakota specifically), so I don’t think someone like Ray Liotta would have fit too well.
I’ve just read an article about Leo and Kate in USA Today. I think Kate Winslet is good to be Daisy. She’s smart, gorgeus, a bit over the top but remains classy. And Leo is Gatsby himself.Their platonic relationship is a real life ‘The Great Gatsby’.
i would love to see:
leonardo dicaprio as gatsby.
rachel mcadams or natalie portman as jordan baker.
james marsden as tom buchanan.
and maybe scarlett johansson as daisy? i love amy adams, but i can’t really imagine her as daisy.
Everybody’s hating on Leo, but he’s not a bad choice. My pick is Ryan Gosling though.
But we should start with Carraway
Whatever they do, I just hope they get the etiquette right; the A&E production really suffered due to a lack of it. One of the better parts of that presentation, I feel, was Jerry Grayson’s portrayal Meyer Wolfshiem. Location shots at the Otto Kahn estate, Oheka, on Long Island would be a nice touch. The film would benefit greatly from hiring a Fitzgerald scholar such as James L. W. West. Matthew J. Bruccoli’s work, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby: A Literary Reference is an invaluable resource on the factual locales in the narrative.
Gatsby: Robert Pattinson
Daisy: Rachel McAdams
Here’s an idea for the cast
Jay Gatsby- unknown actor
Daisy- Alison Lohman
Jordan- Megan Fox
Nick- Ben Foster
Tom- Jensen Ackles
Meyer- Paul Ben-Victor or Kevin Pollak
Myrtle- Katy Mixon
Mr. Gatz- Robert De Niro
Wilson- Tim Guinee
First, they DO give Nick’s age. He “remembers” the night Myrtle is killed that it is his 30th birthday. Daisy is his cousin, we could logically assume they are not too far apart in age. They are all past college-age and late 20’s to early 30’s is the logical spread. 35 would be my logical “cap”.
I am not really that well versed on actors and actresses, but unknowns can be the best if they’re the most talented and that is what I would want with the GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL aka The Great Gatsby!!
Gatsby needs to look mysterious and masculine, but he’s not necessarily a “gangster”. He might have something to do with bootlegging or other activities, but he’s not exactly running around all zoot-suit-and-machine-gun. There needs to be a depth, a sparkle in the eyes and a certain endearing awkwardness as he knocks over the clock and sweats at the prospect of finally seeing Daisy again.
Tom needs to look thick, muscular, wealthy and arrogant, but his good looks need to be able to become distasteful to the viewer as we see him abuse Myrtle and ignore Daisy. He can’t be someone that people “love” to see, because you’ll lose that distaste.
Daisy needs to appear delicate and frail, not too “strong” but just a comment about her beauty. A lot of this is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life. He even said that at different times he’s been Tom, Nick and Gatsby in his own life. But most of his inspiration for Daisy came from Zelda who broke off their own engagement because Scott wasn’t rich enough yet. Although they did eventually marry, the experience does seem to have affected him judging by short stories and Gatsby which reflect a conflict between love and money. Anyway, my point is, Daisy=Zelda. Zelda was not a perfect model. Love makes someone beautiful. I don’t think Daisy should be picture perfect, I think she should be a great actress who can portray the character well. Gatsby is too deep a character to have spent his whole life making himself into a new person just for someone “pretty”. There has to be something else there.
Therefore, my conclusion is, you cannot cast characters one at a time. Put them in a room together and hire the Daisy and the Gatsby that have the most chemistry, the most sexual tension, the most expressive eyes. THAT is what will make or break this movie- the chemistry between Daisy and Gatsby.
Rob Pattinson should play Gatsby, if he is not too young. Gatsby was about 30 and Rob is turning 23. He’d be a perfect Gatsby.
I seriously can’t comprehend why so many people seem to dislike the Robert Redford’s version. It was as close to the novel as you can get! But still, this Baz Luhrmann version will obviously full fill a lot of the expectations set for this story… I was thinking that Edward Norton or Joseph Fiennes could play Nick, and maybe Jennifer Garner could play Jordan,(if she’s not too old for the part). Or Leighton Meester, or Natalie Portman, or anne hathaway. If only Paul Walker was a little older, he would be the perfect Gatsby. Gwyenth Paltrow, Kate Winselt, and Reese Whiterspoon kind of seem too old too for the role of Daisy- and I don’t know why I can’t stop thinking that Baz Luhrmann will cast Scarlett Johansen as Daisy. Maybe Kate Bosworth or Kristen Dunst could play Daisy. Paul Bettany could paly Gatsby- although Ewan Mcgregor or Leo Dicaprio would look hotter with the pink suit on. maybe hugh hackman will end up as tom, or even gerard butler, or eric bana. who knows?… personally i think david whenam would be pretty good on that role, or even johnny depp.
james franco, christian bale and james mardsen (or whatever way you spell his last name), would all be perfect Gatsby’s. Sean Bean could be Tom.
I have no idea how anyone could see Scarlet Johansen as Daisy Buchanan! Daisy is supposed to fit the staple of a flapper in the 1920’s the actress to play her should have a very thin frame with a small chest as was the fashion in the 20’s which went along with the feminist movement of those days. She should have the body of Keira Knightley. However I see her as Jordan Baker personally
I suppose they could tape her down or whatever, but she hasn’t proved herself a remarkable actress yet. Daisy is a very difficult role to capture. Nicole Kidman may have been able to do it back in her prime around, ‘To Die For’ would have sealed the deal for me with ‘Moulin Rouge’ making it even more obvious but Daisy is too young a role for her to play. Besides I’m pretty sure she is ready to move on from making films, she wants to be a mother.
I can’t imagine someone not blond playing the role, I don’t usually freak out when the actors don’t have the same hair color as the character in the book, but Daisy is meant to be blond. I’ll have to think more on that one, hopefully an unknown. Amy Adams is a great actress and I’m sure she could play the part well, but i just don’t see it.
As for Gatsby. He should have the charm of George Clooney, but i don’t know if the role is a little young for him. Leo DiCaprio could certainly pull it off! James Marsden has that old classic look to him, i could see him in any of the three male leads. To me he has proven himself to take on a role form ‘The Great Gatsby’
And I’ve always imagined Edward Norton as Nick Carraway!
I think Ewan McGregor would be perfect for the part of Nick. A blond Keira Knightley should play Daisy.
ryan gosling as nick
james franco as gatsby
leighton meester as daisy
Lee Pace is the best idea I have seen on his forum. Anyone see “The Fall?” He carried that film. He could EASILY do Nick or Gatsby. Or any other role for that matter. When is Hollywood going to start giving him the roles he deserves and shelve these overused, overindulging actors like Pitt? Now, Bradley Cooper has some acting chops and if pushed, he could pull off Gatsby. But Daisy will be what makes or breaks it for Baz. Rachel McAdams is SOOO not right for Daisy. Neither is Amy Adams. ( I’d hate to see Daisy become Delyssa or this film another Notebook.) Love her or hate her, what Mia Farrow brought to the role was the eccentric, gilded, decadence of the era. Sadly, Hollywood lacks any female talent now who can play something other than herself, so Daisy truly needs fresh blood who is not afraid to ACT.
I’d like to stress the concept of age. Whilst names like Brad Pitt, Leo DiCaprio, and even (god forbid) George Clooney are being thrown around, it seems that some have forgotten that all these actors are far too old. All the characters in the book are either in their late 20s or early 30s. In my mind, this notion has to be adhered to.
My vote is:
Gatsby – Matthew Goode. Yes he’s British, but has proved himself to be a fine actor in several roles, and has an undeniable air of affability and aloofness. Also, he looks just like the picture of Gatsby on my cover of the book.
Daisy – Amy Adams. This one took me a litte longer, but if anyone has seen her spread in Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2007/10/adams_outtakes200710?slide=11#globalNav), you can’t deny that she certainly pulls of the youthful glamour of Mrs Buchanan, not to mention the ability to be feminine and innocent.
Nick – Patrick Wilson. Whilst some have claimed Wilson should be considered for the lead role, his oft-bewildered appearance (not to mention talent) just seems to fit with Nick’s character.
id love to see a new unknown talent to play daisy, and mabye christian bale as gatsby
There’s no age limit on actors or actresses. I think for J. Gatsby Daniel Craig would be a great choice! They better not ghetto the remake up! Make it classy with updated Rolls Royces and things of thatsort. If I know Hollywood though they’ll Jack it up and make it shitty!
I think Baz Luhrmann and Fitzgerald’s Gatsby is a perfect matching.
I’m all for Austin Nichols for Nick – he is gorgeous and so understated.
Brad Pitt would make an incredibly convincing Gatsby and Rachel McAdams was born to be Daisy.