Joel Edgerton Emerges Victorious Over Bradley Cooper, Ben Affleck, Wins Role as Tom Buchanan in 'The Great Gatsby'

Two things are sort of strange about this story - first, who'd have thought Tom Buchanan would be the role in "The Great Gatsby" everyone wanted?

I suppose when the film was announced with Gatsby and Nick already cast (Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, respectively), there are only so many places to turn, but still.

Second, this time last year I was seeing Joel Edgerton in a tiny movie by his brother Nash called "The Square" (which is one of the best thrillers I've seen in years and I highly recommend it), and now Deadline has announced he has a role in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of "The Great Gatsby." How strange.

And again, it's been a hotly contested part. Bradley Cooper full on said in The New York Times that he'd do anything for the role. Ben Affleck was deep into talks but had to pull out to direct his next film.

And now that Edgerton, a big ball of testosterone if ever there was one, has landed it, I realize it really couldn't have been anyone else.

Tom's a former athlete, an alcoholic, a womanizer, and a bit of a brute. Edgerton can bring all of that in his sleep.

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive look at the actor getting ready for the role - pictured at left - and in their article they question if he can go toe-to-toe with DiCaprio, as their characters are both vying for the same woman (Carey Mulligan).

Tom's trying to keep her, while Gatsby's trying to steal her away. I'd say there's no question. DiCaprio is an uncommonly intense actor for a star of his calibre, but Edgerton doesn't seem to be afraid of anything.