According to director Baz Luhrmann ('Moulin Rouge'), Hugh Jackman is the new Russell Crowe. Luhrmann replaced the volatile Crowe shortly after he walked out on the as of yet untitled epic about the bombing of the Australian city of Darwin during World War II.
The much anticipated film also stars Nicole Kidman. The basic plot revolves around an English aristocrat and a cattle driver who fall in love during war time. Kidman plays the aristocrat who wins a large ranch in Australia and then faces threats by cattle lords who want to snatch the land from her. She then seeks the help of a cattle driver, played by Jackman, to save her inheritance.
Luhrmann was disappointed about Crowe's departure but recognized it as part of the quarrel between Crowe and 20th Century Fox Studios. Crowe reportedly also requested numerous re-writes of the script which annoyed producers.
'This is a hugely ambitious marriage between Fox, the director and the principal actors. As we tried to bring the budget to the right place and arrange shooting in the capricious weather in northern Australia, it was necessary that the studio and the actor come to a resolution. They got close but when it came to a point where it was not resolved, the number one thing to do was set an actor in that role,' Luhrmann said.
The director remained diplomatic and added, 'Working with Russell in the future is something that I definitely look forward to doing.'
According to published reports, Heath Ledger was originally considered to replace Crowe but the 'Brokeback Mountain' star could not work out his schedule. Now, Jackman, best known for his work as Wolverine in the 'X-Men' series, will get the role.
