The Great Gatsby animated movie in development

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

I hope you're ready for yet another adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, because that's exactly what you're getting; only this time, it'll be animated.

It's been announced that William Joyce will be directing an animated adaptation of The Great Gatsby that will be penned by Brian Selznick, who wrote and illustrated the book upon which Martin Scorsese's Hugo was based. The new project will be animated by DNEG Feature Animation, a visual effects studio who have worked on projects such as Tenet, Star Trek: Discovery, Westworld, Godzilla vs. Kong, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and much more. In a statement, William Joyce said:

Gatsby continues to cast a powerful spell over readers unlike any other book in American letters. Much of the power of Gatsby comes from the enchantment of Fitzgerald’s prose. He created a vivid dreamscape that, to some degree, has eluded filmmakers since the silent era. The previous film versions were constrained by live action, but innovative animation could finally realize the elusive quality of the novel.

DNEG will be using "new methodologies" on The Great Gatsby project, which they're currently employing on an animated short film, Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat, that they're also working on with Joyce. "I've been friends with William Joyce for nearly my entire career," Selznick said in his own statement. "I've always marveled at his ability to invent indelible worlds and unforgettable characters. When he told me about his dream of making ‘Gatsby’ into an animated movie, I immediately understood what a magical synthesis this could be. The rich wonderland of William Joyce's vision is a brilliant match for the shimmering prose of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I'm thrilled to help him bring this unique cinematic experience to life."

This also isn't the only Great Gatsby project in the works, as it was revealed last month that Vikings creator Michael Hirst was also developing a mini-series based on the classic novel. Hirst said that his take on the story will "explore its famous and iconic characters through the modern lens of gender, race and sexual orientation" as it digs deeply "into the hidden lives of its characters through the modern lens of a fractured American dream while also capturing the full majesty of Fitzgerald's timeless vision."