With production of Baz Luhrmann‘s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s “The Great Gatsby” gearing up to start in two weeks, it looks like the director is making the final additions to his cast with Aussie veteran Jack Thompson now set to reunite with his “Australia” director once again.
No word on what role Thompson — who boasts a 40 year resume which includes, among others, “The Good German,” “Star Wars: Episode II” and “Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark” — will be taking but we’d imagine it’d be something minor a la his work on “Australia.” Candidates are likely narrowed to the elder characters of Fitzgerald novel including the Arnold Rothstein surrogate, Meyer Wolfsheim, or Gatsby’s father, Henry C. Gatz. Little known actor Kim Knuckey has also evidently been cast as “a senator” in Luhrmann’s $150 million dollar adaptation.
The duo top off an illustrious ensemble which will see Leonardo DiCaprio as the wealthy and mysterious Jay Gatsby; Carey Mulligan as Gatsby’s love, Daisy Buchanan; Isla Fisher as Myrtle, a married woman having an affair with Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton); Jason Clarke as George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband; with Tobey Maguire portraying protagonist Nick Carraway and Australian newcomer Elizabeth Debicki as Carraway’s love interest, Jordan Baker.
An assault on the 2012 award season is surely on the cards, but we’re mostly just fascinated to see how Luhrmann will manage to bring 1920s jazz-age New York to life in 3D considering the fact he’s lensing on the other side of the world. [DailyTelegraph]