Jay-Z Signs On As Executive Producer For 'The Great Gatsby' Soundtrack To Be Released This Summer

Jay-Z has signed on as executive producer for the soundtrack to the film "The Great Gatsby," scheduled for release this summer.

Warner Brothers told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that Jay-Z will put a modern twist to the film, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of 1920s America.

The star of "The Great Gatsby," Leonardo DiCaprio introduced the multi-platinum rapper to Baz Luhrmann, the director of the film.

DiCaprio plays the iconic literary character Gatsby.

"As soon as I spoke with Baz and Leonardo, I knew this was the right project," Jay-Z said in a statement. ''It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist. The imagination Baz brought to 'Moulin Rouge' made it a masterpiece, and the 'Romeo + Juliet' score wasn't just in the background - the music became a character. This film's vision and direction has all the makings of an epic experience.''

Craig Armstrong will compose music for the movie. Armstrong composed for "Moulin Rouge" and "Romeo + Juliet," which were both directed by Luhrmann.

"'The Great Gatsby' is that classic American story of one's introduction to extravagance, decadence and illusion. It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist. The imagination Baz brought to 'Moulin Rouge' made it a masterpiece, and 'Romeo + Juliet's' score wasn't just in the background; the music became a character. This film's vision and direction has all the makings of an epic experience," the statement from Warner Brothers read.

Luhrmann told the Times that Jay-Z is a ''natural fit'' for the film.

''Jay-Z is a credible and natural fit," Luhrmann said. "Fitzgerald was a pioneer, famed and controversial for using the then-new and explosive sound called jazz in his novels and short stories - not just as decoration, but to actively tell story using the immediacy of pop culture. He coined the phrase 'the Jazz Age.'"

Luhrmann said he knew wanted to work with Jay-Z when he hear the superstar's record "No Church In The Wild" two years ago.