Give or take the odd wild party, car crash and shooting, a 3D adaptation of The Great Gatsby would not appear to promise quite the same breathless cinematic thrills as Jaws III, Piranha 3D or Avatar.

But the latest big-screen version of F Scott Fitzgerald's tale of doomed love and doomed dreams could yet get the stereoscopic treatment courtesy of its director, Baz Luhrmann. And it a prospect that has not gone down well with the classic's many fans.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Australian film-maker dropped the hint during an appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Luhrmann said although he had workshopped his Gatsby in 3D, he had not made a final decision on the film.

The LA Times reported backstage comments from Luhrmann, citing his excitement about using the format for the film, which is rumoured to star Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. Until now, 3D has predominantly been the preserve of action movies and children's stories.

But Luhrmann's mooted 3D Gatsby could be a further sign that 3D is breaking out of its action shackles: Martin Scorsese has announced that he will film Hugo Cabret, his adaptation of Brian Selznick's best-selling children's historical fiction book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, in 3D.

News of the potential project did not meet with widespread approval today. Twitter users seemed to be especially vexed at the prospect of a three-dimensional Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. "Cracks me up that Baz Luhrmann is considering filming The Great Gatsby in 3D," wrote one. "What sequences? Drinking mint juleps at The Plaza?"

Other Fitzgerald aficionados were more direct: "Baz Luhrmann, I will punch you in the face so hard, I swear your great-grandchildren will still feel the pain"; "Why not Arse-O-Vision too?" – or more reverently referential: "Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby Might Be 3D … The green light burns in your lap 'Sophisticated – God, I'm sophisticated'."

Dave Calhoun, film editor of Time Out, said his heart sank at the possibility of Luhrmann's 3D film. "If you're spending time worrying about how to make Gatsby's hat poke out of the screen or Daisy's necklace float in front of your eyes, what else are your spending time not worrying about," he said. "Story? Dialogue? Pace? Acting? Character?"

The problem with 3D, he added, was that it was a "cynical marketing tool" to increase ticket sales – and its use the province of producers rather than directors. "If the likes of Luhrmann can then make something new and interesting out of it, then good on him," said Calhoun.

"But let's not pretend that 3D offers a new artistic lease of life … It's comparable to being forced to cast Lindsay Lohan rather than, say, Rebecca Hall in a film because the first might sell more tickets. You might do your best with Lohan, but it would probably be better if she wasn't in your film at all."