New trailer available for Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby
The 3D film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire
This December sees the release of Baz Luhrmann's take on F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Renowned for his epic stories of love and tragedy – see Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet – Luhrmann seems like a fitting director to put an original spin on this classic tale.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan have been cast as Gatsby and Daisy, with Tobey Maguire taking the role of narrator Nick Carraway in his first major role since 2007's disappointing Spiderman 3.
Fitzgerald's classic novel has already had been adapted for film many times, notably the 1974 version by Jack Clayton and penned by Francis Ford Coppolla. This film starred Robert Redford as Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy, both undeniably strong screen presences. However Dicaprio has more than proved his worth in films such as The Aviator, Gangs of New York and of course Luhrmann's own Romeo and Juliet. Similarly, Mulligan has shown herself to be an understated yet charismatic performer, having had prominent roles in both Shame and Drive last year.
So what can we expect from the 2012 interpretation? Possibly one of the defining features of this film is that it's been shot completely in 3D – unusual for a production that is neither animated nor loaded with CGI. There have been growing signs of a backlash against 3D recently, although this is mostly directed at films that add in the third dimension in post-production, rather than shooting with specially-designed cameras as Luhrmann is. As the original intent of 3D was to give viewers a more immersive experience, can we expect to feel this in Gatsby?
The trailer shows glimpses of a dazzling prohibition-era Manhattan, spectacularly contrasting a dark night with the bright lights of Times Square. We then see shots of a lavish and decadent party where the champagne flows freely and the guests are showered with confetti. This is all set to a pulsing beat and intertwined with scenes capturing the novel's more serious tone. The 1920s is an ideal setting for the director's artistic flair, allowing room for a jazzy soundtrack, luxurious costumes and the thrill of an era so consumed with its ban on alcohol. The trailer instantly gets the imagination running with 3D possibilities, and may inject fresh energy into the format, which currently only directors such as Spielberg, Cameron and Peter Jackson are approaching with any real passion. Let's see if Luhrmann can join them.
The Great Gatsby will be released on 26 December.