One of the greatest historical figures of all time, the role of Alexander The Great will be portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in this epic adventure to be directed by Baz Luhrmann, produced by Dino and Martha De Laurentiis and Luhrmann and released by Universal Pictures. Nicole Kidman will also star as Olympia, Alexander's mother and one of the most extraordinary female figures in all history.
The project re-teams both DiCaprio and Kidman with Luhrmann, following his internationally acclaimed, Oscar-winning masterpiece "Moulin Rouge" and Broadway triumph "La Boheme." The Oscar-nominated DiCaprio ("Catch Me If You Can", "Gangs of New York") catapulted into superstardom when he portrayed Romeo in Luhrmann's contemporary interpretation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo + Juliet" in 1996. DiCaprio went on to star in "Titanic," the highest-grossing film of all time, and will next be seen in "The Aviator" for director Martin Scorsese. Kidman created an international sensation and earned an Oscar nomination for her work in Luhrmann's spectacular musical, "Moulin Rouge," and she won this year's Best Actress Academy Award for her work in "The Hours." Kidman stars this year in Lars von Trier's "Dogville," Robert Benton's "The Human Stain" and Anthony Minghella's "Cold Mountain."
Luhrmann stated, "We are seeking a young actor who could credibly play the role of Alexander the Great at the age of 8 or 9. He must be prepared to learn to ride a horse and, of course, it would be a huge advantage if he already possessed outstanding equestrian skills as one of the significant elements of the film is Alexander's relationship with his legendary horse, Bucephalus. While no previous acting experience is necessary to be considered for the role, naturally he would have to be a good physical match for Leonardo DiCaprio."
Luhrmann recently visited Los Angeles, where he captivated studio representatives with a presentation of his new structure for the ambitious story and a precise vision for the visual language and epic reach of the film. The filmmaker's passion for the project similarly impressed DiCaprio and Kidman, already committed to the parts of Alexander and Olympia.
Leonardo DiCaprio stated, "The character of Alexander the Great is one of the most remarkable figures in history. It's not just that he conquered the world or was taught by one of the great minds in history, Aristotle; what most attracts me is the complex character of Alexander himself - always restless, impulsive but measured. It's truly one of the most extraordinary stories in human history, the resonance of which has had a direct effect not only on who we are but where we find ourselves today."
Nicole Kidman noted, "Baz and I have often discussed our love of epic stories and, in particular, those told through simple human drama. The character of Olympia is one of the few iconic women in history. She is unlike any other woman I've played before and it's a role I'm really looking forward to."
Producer Dino De Laurentiis says, "The person lucky enough to be selected will enjoy one of the most high profile big-screen debuts in cinema history, co-starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, among others, in this lavish production."
