Many of the upcoming movies of 2013 already look like they’re going to be record breakers, but there is one film in particular that audiences are anticipating more than any other.

Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton is set to be a blockbuster summer movie for 2013 and possibly a new addition to the greats of filmmaking lore.

I have been excited for the film ever since I heard its first announcement, considering F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same name is my favorite book. But even for those who do not care for time period films or novel adaptations, “The Great Gatsby” will offer an entertainment factor that cannot be denied. The trailer has over eight million views on YouTube and counting.

The movie, which will be available to watch in 3-D, was originally set to premiere Dec. 25, 2012, but Warner Bros. moved the release date to May 10, 2013, because of production schedule conflicts. I cannot help but wonder if Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables” Christmas Day release helped to influence the later premiere for Luhrmann’s film.

“The Great Gatsby” has been adapted for the silver screen before. Jack Clayton’s 1974 film starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow is the most well known adaptation, but it has become outdated in cinematic standards. Luhrmann’s remake has the technological capabilities to accurately portray the extravagant glamour of the roaring twenties and to depict the universal themes that the novel so masterfully conveys. 

DiCaprio stars as Jay Gatsby, a casting decision I applaud. DiCaprio is the type of powerhouse actor who can perfectly pull off a role as iconic and demanding as Gatsby and contribute his own style to the character.

Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan is another excellent fit, and she has proven her dedication to portraying Buchanan as accurately as possible. She has said in interviews that she researched documents from the 1920s about Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott’s wife, who inspired the character of Buchanan. From what we can see so far, Mulligan succeeds in representing Buchanan’s whimsical, wanting nature.

Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story. I inherently wasn’t thrilled when I learned that he had been cast, but the more I see of the movie the more I think that Maguire may give a decent portrayal of Carraway. Of course, I’m hoping that I’m wrong in my initial disappointment and that Maguire will deliver a stunning performance.

“The Great Gatsby” has also drawn attention as the last movie Leonardo DiCaprio will act in for an indefinite amount of time. The actor recently announced he is taking a hiatus from his career, and has not said when he plans to continue it, if at all.

Simply put, Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” is expected to be a huge success. My own personal hope is that it will bring new life to Fitzgerald’s classic novel and inspire moviegoers to read the original masterpiece. If there is any film audiences should definitely go see this year, it’s “The Great Gatsby.”