Nearly a century after it’s initial release, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic The Great Gatsby is coming to television. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Hirst (writer, Vikings) is writing and executive producing a close-ended limited series that will delve deep into the original characters, as well as exploring the vibrant culture of the 1920s not mentioned in past adaptations. The Fitzgerald estate is additionally involved in the project with Blake Hazard, a great-grandaughter of Fitzgerald, attached as a consulting producer.
The miniseries is a co-production between ITV Studios America and A+E Studios, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, have owned the rights to the book for at least two decades. Hirst’s adaptation has reportedly been in the works for three years and was momentarily in development with Apple TV+ before returning to A+E. Joining Hirst as an executive producer will be Groundswell Productions’ Michael London (Milk).
The Great Gatsby limited series is set to revisit the novel’s titular character, Jay Gatsby, as well as Nick Carraway and Daisy. None of the roles have currently been cast. Hirst’s Gatsby intends to explore the Black communities and music scene in New York City during the 20s. Farah Jasmine Griffin, professor of English and comparative literature and African-American Studies at Columbia University, is attached to serve as a consultant on the series. Speaking to the reimagined nature of the miniseries, Hazard notes “I have long dreamt of a more diverse, inclusive version of Gatsby that better reflects the America we live in, one that might allow us all to see ourselves in Scott’s wildly romantic text” (The Hollywood Reporter).
Being made into a television series will allow Hirst’s Gatsby to stand out from previous silver screen adaptations including those released in 1926 (directed by Herbert Brenon), 1949 (directed by Elliott Nugent), 1974 (directed by Jack Clayton), and 2013 (directed by Baz Luhrmann), as well as the made for television movie which aired in 2000 (directed by Robert Markowitz). While no network is currently involved in the project, The Great Gatsby adaptation will be pitched to various cable and streaming networks.