Showbiz411

The red carpet on opening night in Cannes this year is a potential blockbuster, and so perfectly appropriate: Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s 3D rendering of “The Great Gatsby.” Luhrmann’s take on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire. Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, and Joel Edgerton co-star.

The Cannes announcement also says that rapper entrepreneur Jay Z will be at opening night. Okay, why not? Apparently, Jay Z and a group called The Bullits, as well as Prince and Lady Gaga, have songs on the new Gatsby soundtrack. (Roll over, Cole Porter.) And Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan is coming as well.

“Gatsby” is appropriate because Fitzgerald wrote some of the book in nearby St. Raphael. This is also the second 3D movie to open the festival and the first live action. Animated “Up” in 2009 was in 3D.

This is a highly anticipated movie. “Gatsby” was supposed to be ready for Christmas 2012, but missed its date thanks to the 3D work. Warners has a lot riding on it. Luhrmann never fails to entertain, so this will be hot stuff. Cannes opens  on May 15th.

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.