I’m sure many of you have heard by now that the much-anticipated remake of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the leading roll has been delayed from this holiday season to the summer of 2013.  Many are saying that it isn’t boding well for the movie because of the six month move.  Why would they move something so high profile, especially from December to the following summer?  Summer releases don’t usually do well when it comes to awards season, after all, and in the past few years, at least, it’s films that have made the Venice and Toronto festival circuit, which both occur in September, that do.

Trailer to the Gatsby movie

There could be a reason behind this.  At least two other classic novels, both remakes, are being released later this year, meaning that the best adapted screenplay category is going to be very competitive.  First is the long-awaited screen adaptation of the musical Les Misérables and the other is Anna Karenina, which will make its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.  With these two high profile films hitting theatres later this year (and both with all-star casts), could it have had an impact on Baz Luhrmann and his team?  Could they be worried about the competition, so they pulled Gatsby out of release for this year not just for further tweaking, but because because a 2013 release would be…less competitive? At the same time, people are saying that none of the three films is really THAT great (based on trailers released, anyway), especially Les Mis (there are just too many people who’ve seen the stage production more than twice and are therefore EXTREMELY critical). So really, what does it mean?  Does Gatsby‘s delay boost Les Mis (or Anna Karenina, for that matter) at all?

Of course, it could just be tweaking.  People say that Luhrmann is a serious perfectionist, and won’t release anything that isn’t “just right.”  I have my doubts.  Awards season only has so much room, after all. In any case, I’m looking forward to seeing all three.  We just have to wait a bit longer for Gatsby.  And who says delays aren’t a bad thing?  Another Leonardo DiCaprio film was delayed, going from a summer release to holiday.  And that movie practically swept the Oscars.