Take this one right out of the Oscar race folks. While showing off a razzle dazzle trailer earlier this year that matched up Jay-Z beats with Jazz Age glamour, Warner Bros. have decided to shift Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" from a Christmas Day relaese to an unspecified date next summer.
Is it a troubled film? Nah, not likely. It more or less seems like a film they don't believe will play for awards as much as it will play as a big audience pleaser. “Based on what we’ve seen, Baz Luhrmann’s incredible work is all we anticipated and so much more. It truly brings Fitzgerald’s American classic to life in a completely immersive, visually stunning and exciting way. We think moviegoers of all ages are going to embrace it, and it makes sense to ensure this unique film reaches the largest audience possible,” said WB's president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman.
But on another more practical level, something was bound to move out of the hugely crowded December frame. With "Les Miserables," "Django Unchained," "Zero Dark Thirty" and "This Is 40" all coming within two weeks of each other, something had to give. And with Warner Bros. also behind "The Hobbit" — which is now officially turned into a trilogy — in December (which is also in 3D), this will allow them to put their full resources behind that picture, which they hope will be the start of something that matches the massive success of the "Lord Of The Rings" series (and not cannabalize screens in the format either).
So sorry folks, the romance, decadence and drama of Jay, Daisy and Nick as played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire will have to wait. But hey, maybe it's a bit more time for you to fire up the Kindle and order up F. Scott Fitzgerald's book.