2001's "Moulin Rouge!" starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman was nominated for eight Oscars, including best picture, and won two. But before it became beloved by fans and critics alike, director Baz Luhrmann was told he could never make a movie like that work in Hollywood.
"When I did 'Moulin Rouge,' honestly you have no idea how many very well known, very trusted people said to me, 'You're insane. The musical will never work again. The musical can never be popular again in cinema," Luhrmann told the crowd at a Tribeca Film Festival panel Saturday evening with author Nelson George.
Luhrmann respected that advice; however, he decided not to listen to it.
"I kind of think it can and I've got to get that done," he reminisced.
The excerpt from Luhrmann is one of many stories I've heard of actors, directors, or talent in Hollywood being told they could never make something happen, and instead of listening to the advice given to them, they went and proved others wrong.
The topic came up when a fan from the audience asked Luhrmann if we would ever consider making an adaptation of the Broadway show "Wicked."
"'Wicked' has come my way many times, as have some many other great musicals," he admitted. "I always look at them and go, 'Well that would be fun. Wouldn't that be great?' And then I think to myself, 'No, probably someone else could do that.'"
"I always feel my job is to do something that no one else will," said Luhrmann, with "Moulin Rouge!" being the perfect example of that.
"The likelihood of doing 'Wicked' is probably not going to happen," he went on. "But it's a great show and someone will do a good job of it in cinema I'm sure."
