Not such a great idea: Luhrmann backs out of Gatsby's box-office duel

Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton star in 'The Great Gatsby' (Warner Bros.)

The release of Baz Luhrman's 3D movie adaptation of The Great Gatsby has been delayed for six months apparently owing to fears that it would be eclipsed at the box office by Peter Jackson's film version of The Hobbit.

Originally scheduled to be released in the UK on Boxing Day, the film inspired by F Scott Fitzgerald's novel will instead come to cinemas next summer. Warner Brothers said the delay was to ensure the movie "reaches the largest audience possible", with winter set for Jackson's reprisal of his JRR Tolkien screen adaptations following his smash-hit Lord of the Rings films.

However, studio sources told the LA Times that Luhrmann's desire to perfect his 3D visuals were the cause of the delay, though the move appears to limit the film's chances of Oscar glory.