Hoo boy this is confusing, so I’ll just let Dark Horizons completely explain it to you. But the gist is this: Russell Crowe WILL (not) be starring in Baz Luhrmann‘s war drama, despite the rumors that the gig went to Heath Ledger instead … only it didn’t.
Thanks to DH for deciphering all this stuff: "Crowe has for months been set to play Nicole Kidman‘s lover later this year in the film, which was to be set around the Japanese bombing of Darwin in 1942. Crowe however, who has been very upfront about his involvement in the project, was accused of demanding script approval before signing on for the film.
The producers apparently told Luhrmann to find another actor, and so he met Ledger several times and offered him the movie, and then according to insiders "Crowe came back to Luhrmann and said he’d forgo script approval and wanted to do the film, but they told him it was too late – to buzz off…
Now, today’s Variety reports that reps for (Heath) Ledger confirmed he was offered but had passed on the project. At present, Kidman and Luhrmann are still attached to the project which is still going forward, however it’s unlikely Crowe will return."
Wait … what?
