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Joel Edgerton is Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'
by Ethan Anderton
May 17, 2011
Source: Deadline
Back in early April we heard that Ben Affleck was in talks to play Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1923 seminal classic novel The Great Gatsby. But then word came later that month that the actor would instead step behind the camera again for Argo, the true story of how the CIA used a fake sci-fi film to rescue Americans during the Tehran hostage crisis. Now it appears Luhrmann has finally found someone to replace Affleck with Deadline reporting Joel Edgerton, an actor who's star has been rising since his turn in Animal Kingdom, has landed the pivotal role in the upcoming adaptation.
On Edgerton's addition to The Great Gatsby cast, Luhrmann states:
"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."
In the story, Buchanan is married to Daisy (Carey Mulligan), but ends up having an affair with Myrtle (Isla Fisher), the wife of gas station owner George Wilson. The latter role has yet to be filled (as far as we know), and with a cast that already includes Mulligan, Fisher, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tobey Maguire, the cast can't get much better. As a fan of Luhrmann's take on Romeo + Juliet and the musical Moulin Rouge, I really can't wait to see what he can bring to the table for this new adaptation of the iconic novel. How about you?
8 Comments
1
Honestly, does anyone care about another film on The Great Gatsby? Do we like this?
Rp1n on May 18, 2011
2
Absolutely. They have yet to nail Gatsby on the screen, never giving the book the justice it deserves.
Mike P on May 19, 2011
3
I care! I don't really like the Coppola version at all. As a high school English teacher, I show parts of that film to my 11th graders as we read the book. They always comment on what a terrible casting job they did for Tom Buchanan. I mean, he's described as having rippling muscles under his riding clothes. Daisy calls him a brute. I'm not too familiar with Joel Edgerton, but he's definitely a better choice than Bruce Dern.
Anonymous on May 18, 2011
4
great casting. I love the book. I think we do need a new telling of it in cinematic form. Glad this guy isnt being overlooked after losing out on so many projects he was a perfect fit for (Bourne, Huntsman)
Talli on May 19, 2011
5
Does anyone really care about Joel whateverhisnameis? I mean, is this really news-worthy? Some unknown Australian actor.
Guest on May 19, 2011
6
Is this a joke?
Mike P on May 19, 2011
7
It certainly looks interesting and Di Caprio is perfect as Jay Gatsby, but my problem is - why is it being filmed in 3D?
Sonny Drake on May 19, 2011
8
Hmm, Edgerton. Probably will end up giving this one a miss. He don't much float my boat, and Animal Kingdon was crap.
Stevebeer60 on Jun 1, 2011
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