Luhrmann reveals Gleeful ambition

Australian director Baz Luhrmann is the latest celebrity wanting to hop on the Glee gravy train.

Luhrmann has reportedly put his hand up to direct an episode of the popular musical television series.

No stranger to song and dance numbers, the Moulin Rouge director revealed he had approached the show's creator, Ryan Murphy.

"I'm a great fan of Glee. I spoke to Ryan. I tried to find a moment to do an [episode] with him," he said. "I'd love to do that. I think those kids are phenomenal. Just to do that every week, the discipline."

Luhrmann told MTV that he sees parallels between what he tried to do 10 years ago in film and what Murphy is trying to do now on television.

"When I made Moulin Rouge it was like, 'You've got to be kidding, a musical with contemporary tracks, that will never work.'

"So if I could [direct an episode], I'd love to ... I'd like to contribute to that."

Luhrmann is the latest in a string of high-profile stars who are vying to walk the halls of McKinley High, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Boyle, Paul McCartney and even Javier Bardem.

The show, which has just started its second season, has been a runaway hit, garnering 19 nominations and two wins at the recent Emmy Awards. Its success has also translated into music sales, with songs featured in the show climbing high in the music charts.

Glee's recent Britney Spears episode, which included a cameo appearance by the pop star, earned the show its second-highest ratings ever in the US. Four of the five featured Spears songs made the iTunes top 10 the next day.

The news of Luhrmann's interest in the hit program comes as he is preparing to announce his next film project.

He has not had a movie in the works since the epic Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in 2008.

He says he is choosing between two scripts - an adaptation of The Great Gatsby and an original musical period piece.

Rumours have been swirling that Leonardo DiCaprio could star in Gatsby, which would see the director reuniting with his Romeo + Juliet star, but Luhrmann has refused to comment.

"You know I think of casting all the time, but I put that to the side until I complete the text," he told MTV.

"Obviously there are natural choices and there is a natural top of the list, but I really refuse to say anything until we have the text right."

Luhrmann's Australian-made features - Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and Australia - are some of the country's highest grossing films.

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