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Baz Luhrmann’s hotly-anticipated film adaption of the The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, will not be released until summer 2013, in order to capitalize on a larger audience, according to movie studio Warner Bros. The move means that it will not be a contender for this years Oscars, a decision that will certainly raise a few eye-brows in the film industry.
Originally touted for a December 25th 2012 release, The Great Gatsby received good reactions from critics in early sneak peak viewings of the film and seemed to be an early favorite in the annual Oscar race for this year. Warner Bros president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said: “It truly brings Fitzgerald’s American classic to life in a completely immersive, visually stunning and exiting 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.”
The new move will also avoid clash with DiCaprio’s film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which is also stated for a December 25th release.
Out of 2013 Oscars Race
Leonardo DiCaprio’s bid for an Oscar nod in the Best Actor category won’t be happening this year, or perhaps anytime soon.While moving a films release date can be a sign of bad news and a lack of faith in the film, it can also show a studio’s new-found hope in a films commercial prospects. December is usually reserved for either Oscar-bait dramas or broad family comedies, and Warners Bros. is hoping Luhrmann’s mix of splashy music, kinetic visuals and A-list talent may find a wider audience in the summer than crammed between prestige pictures. If it were to be released this December as planned, it would go up against rivals such as Les Miserables, DiCaprio’s own Django Unchained and Anna Karenina, so perhaps moving it to a later date may be a better solution in terms of competition. The bad news is, films released in the summer season aren’t normally nominated for gongs in Awards Season. If a studio wants a film to be included in the Oscar run up or any type of prestigious award, they normally release the picture in the autumn or winter, before the Oscar ceremony, just like Luhrmann had planned.
Personally, I’m quite gutted the movie distributors have decided to postpone the release date, it’s a cherished novel of mine and I really was looking forward to see Luhrmann’s take on the iconic novel. Nevertheless, I will be seeing it, just much later than I had expected.
So will The Great Gatsby even be considered for an Oscar nomination in 2014? Is this a bleak move for the film? Will Leonardo DiCaprio ever win an Oscar? Let me know your thoughts and opinions!
The Great Gatbsy trailer: