Australia Bosses Deny Dispute With Luhrmann

14-11-2008 18:00

Reports suggesting that movie executives are involved in a feud with director Baz Luhrmann, over his epic film Australia have been played down, just days before its world premiere.

The Moulin Rouge moviemaker has spent four years filming the $130 million (£87.6 million) project, starring Australian actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman - who play lovers during the Second World War.

Luhrmann admitted this week that he must fly from the U.S. to Sydney, Australia to finish editing the film, refuting claims studio bosses demanded he reshoot the ending.

A source who has reportedly seen a rough edit tells the New York Post, "Fox wanted more love scenes and development between Nicole and Hugh's characters, so they tried to splice that in. Now it's disjointed."

But a Fox spokesperson has denied the last-minute rift, adding: "It's far from a mess, and other than Oprah's (Winfrey) audience, who saw a rough, unfinished print, no one has seen it yet."

The film is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday.