"The Great Gatsby" is a classic novel from 1925 that is often a required part of the school curriculum in North America. However, it has yet to become a classic film.
Several attempts have been made, though. These include a 1949 Alan Ladd vehicle, directed by Elliott Nugent; a costly 1974 flop directed by Jack Clayton and starring Robert Redford; and a little-noticed TV version in 2000 with natural redhead Toby Stephens (former "James Bond" villain and son of Dame Maggie Smith) as Jay Gatsby.
After "Australia," his costly 2008 flop starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (born Mark Anthony Luhrmann) has chosen "The Great Gatsby" as his comeback — his first full-length feature in five years.