‘The Great Gatsby’ To Open Cannes Film Festival

The Great Gatsby will open the 2013 edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The star studded movie directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the title character will premiere at the 66th edition of the annual event when the festival begins on May 15.

Organizers for the Cannes Film Festival announced their choice for the headliner late Monday night. This actually marks the third time in the last five years that a Hollywood blockbuster has been the opening act.

In 2009, Pixar’s Up opened the fesitivities, and, in 2010, it was Ridley Scott’sRobin Hood in the headlining slot. With Gatsby in that position this year, it marks the second time in the history of the event that a 3-D movie will open the festival; Up also debuted in 3-D.

The Great Gatsby is adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel. The story is set in the roaring 1920s and is centered around Gatsby as narrated by his friend Nick Carraway (played by Tobey Maguire). Carey Mulligan will play the title character’s love interest Daisy, and her abusive husband will be portrayed by Joel Edgerton.

Even the score for the film has a superstar attached as Jay-Z was contracted to come up with the music that will set the pacing and tone for this new version of the classic tale.

Luhrmann issued a statement shortly after the film was tapped to be the Cannes opener saying, “”It is a great honor for all those who have worked on The Great Gatsby to open the Cannes Film Festival.” Luhrmann added that he was excited to be returning to the place where his movie Strictly Ballroom appeared 21 years ago.

The director pointed out that F. Scott Fitzgerald himself had written some of the famous novel at a villa not far from where Cannes takes place in St. Raphael.

The Great Gatsby will actually hit theaters nationwide on May 10, five days before it opens up the Cannes Film Festival.