Ledger Replaces Crowe in Baz Luhrmann Film
Tuesday, May 30th, 2006
New York - Oscar winner Russell Crowe has been replaced by Heath Ledger in the new untitled Baz Luhrmann $150 million epic.
Crowe was to play Nicole Kidman's lover later this year in the movie, which is a love story set in Australian outback just before the Japanese bombardment of Darwin in 1942.
But Crowe has been accused of demanding script approval before signing on for the film.
While he was procrastinating, the producers reportedly told Luhrmann to find another actor. The director then met Ledger several times. "Baz liked him and offered him the movie," a source told the New York Post yesterday.
"Then Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he'd forgo script approval and wanted to do the film, but they told him it was too late – to buzz off."
A spokeswoman for Luhrmann last night declined to deny or confirm the report.
"Baz doesn't publicly comment on his casting processes, and currently he has made no final decision on the film, who is in it or when or where it will be shot," a spokeswoman said.
Crowe's representative has no comment.
(Updated Information Here: Ledger Passed on Luhrmann - 31 May 2006 - See information below. )
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Sources for this story:
India e-News
Sydney Daily Telegraph
NY Post
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All the hub-bub started last Friday when a column in the New York Post
said Russell Crowe had reportedly been dumped from Baz Luhrmann's
new $150 million epic in favour of Heath Ledger.
Crowe has for months been set to play Nicole Kidman's lover later this
year in the film, which was to be set around the Japanese bombing of
Darwin in 1942. Crowe however, who has been very upfront about his
involvement in the project, was accused of demanding script approval
before signing on for the film.
The producers apparently told Luhrmann to find another actor, and so he
met Ledger several times and offered him the movie, and then according to
insiders "Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he'd forgo script
approval and wanted to do the film, but they told him it was too late - to
buzz off".
A spokeswoman for Luhrmann told newspaper The Daily Telegraph on
Tuesday that "Baz doesn't publicly comment on his casting processes and
currently he has made no final decision on the film, who is in it or when or
where it will be shot".
Now, today's Variety* reports that reps for Ledger confirmed he was
offered but had passed on the project. At present, Kidman and Luhrmann
are still attached to the project which is still going forward, however it's
unlikely Crowe will return.
Crowe and Kidman last year were set to star in another all-Aussie effort,
the Jocelyn Moorhouse-directed Fox drama "Eucalyptus." That film fell
apart over creative differences.
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* Variety Article Below
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News.com.au
Heath no Baz hero
By Michael Bodey
01jun06
RUSSELL Crowe has been outwitted and Baz Luhrmann left without a male star in a Hollywood power play.
Luhrmann's epic love story is set to begin pre-production in October with a February shoot starring Nicole Kidman and, now, who knows, after Heath Ledger passed on the film.
Luhrmann is overseas casting a male Australian lead.
Ledger's US representatives said the Brokeback Mountain star passed on the role, which he reportedly had in the bag.
The Daily Telegraph understands Ledger's casting in another high-profile international film will be announced soon.
While Crowe didn't have script approval on the 1930s Top End story, insiders said the Oscar winner continues to throw around his "rights of consultation" and held off signing his contract unless his changes were accepted.
Luhrmann and the studio behind the film, Twentieth Century Fox, decided the script - co-written by Collateral's Stuart Beattie and The Pianist's Ron Harwood - wouldn't need further input.
Crowe recently told friends he hadn't seen a final script.
"Baz is the master, he's the one, the film doesn't need two masters," said a crew member closely involved in production.
Crowe's camp suggests the film's future is clouded given its budget ($150 million) and logistical problems (filming in The Kimberleys, Darwin and Sydney), but production staff continued to scout locations last week.
Fox's commitment to Luhrmann is solid, despite its handshake deal with Crowe to produce his directorial debut.
However, the studio is respectful of Luhrmann's vision and ability to hire "low-stress" cast and crew, said one insider.
Crowe, filming Tenderness for director John Polson in New York, will be in Sydney next week for a "re-launch" of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
This incident will confirm to many that it was Crowe who was at the heart of the end of the film Eucalyptus last year.
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Movie news
Virgin.net
Ledger refuses to replace Crowe
Australian actor Heath Ledger has apparently turned down the opportunity to replace Russell Crowe in director Baz Luhrmann's upcoming untitled blockbuster after the 'Gladiator' star pulled out of the production last week.
Luhrmann's highly anticipated film was set to see Australian stars Crowe and Nicole Kidman unite for the first time on the big screen, but the tempestuous actor pulled out of the running after his script approval demand was not met by Luhrmann.
Following Crowe's untimely exit, Luhrmann was quick to offer the role to Ledger who has launched himself into Hollywood fame with his performance in 'Brokeback Mountain'.
However, Ledger is said to have turned down the offer with a source telling the New York Post: "Baz liked him and offered him the movie."
"Then Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he'd forgo the script approval and wanted to do the film, but they told him it was too late--to buzz off."
However, Kidman is still without a leading man the Australian Daily Telegraph reports that Ledger has reportedly passed on the project in favour of another film.