John Curran’s F. Scott Fitzgerald biopic, “The Beautiful And The Damned,” is reportedly set to begin shooting this spring in Croatia with Keira Knightley on board to play his wife Zelda with Leonardo DiCaprio still rumored to play the acclaimed author.
The Fitzgeralds were icons of the Jazz Age in the 20’s and are famous for their illustrious, erratic lifestyles. Both died relatively young in the their forties, leaving behind a legacy — despite failing when first released, F. Scott’s “The Great Gatsby” is now an out and out classic.
The film’s title is appropriately derived from Fitzgerald’s second novel “The Beautiful And Damned” about a Jazz Age socialite, his relationship with wife Gloria and his alcoholism, which draws from Fitzgeralds’ own life. Hanna Weg’s script will focus on the couple’s turbulent marriage and their darker days including Zelda’s struggles with schizophrenia. Their travels to Paris and the French Riviera are also reported to be involved with Croatia substituting for said location.
DiCaprio has been rumored for the role since early in the film’s development but with the link sticking until now, perhaps it has more merit? The role, however, will be somewhat similar to that of DiCaprio’s Howard Hughes in “The Aviator” being another biopic set in post-WWI high society with a hint of psychological disorders. Would DiCaprio really want to tread the same ground? We should find out soon enough though with the spring start looming.
