An animated feature based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel The Great Gatsby is in the works according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be directed by Academy Award-winning illustrator and filmmaker William Joyce (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore) and animated by DNEG Feature Animation.
The news was confirmed by Joyce himself, who also shared a preview of the animation style on Twitter.
“Gatsby continues to cast a powerful spell over readers unlike any other book in American letters,” said Joyce in a statement. “The previous film versions were constrained by live-action, but innovative animation could finally realize the elusive quality of the novel.”
The animation feature will be written by Brian Selznick (Wonderstruck) and produced by Michael Siegel (Rise of the Guardians). Further details, including the voice cast and release date, are expected to be revealed soon.
The news about The Great Gatsby animated film comes a month after a TV series based on the novel was confirmed. Fronted by writer Michael Hirst (Vikings), the project is envisioned as a limited-series and is still in the early stages of development.
The Great Gatsby has been adapted for stage, theater, and television multiple times in the past. The most recent was Baz Luhrmann’s full-length feature with Leonardo DiCaprio in the titular role.
