Damien Chazelle isn’t hopeful about his next project coming to life, and fans of the director have proved that they’re behind him all the way.
In a post-Babylon world, things are uncertain for Damien Chazelle. Previously, everyone considered Chazelle to be a wunderkind in the industry. At only 29 years old, he’d already directed his passion project, Whiplash, which went on to earn critical acclaim and secure him a loyal following.
After that, La La Land became one of the most talked-about movies of 2016 and earned Chazelle the Oscar for Best Directing. By all accounts, he was on a roll. His third film, First Man, went by under the radar (comparatively to his previous two movies), but the real trouble came with 2022’s Babylon.
A jazz-age epic that brought in some of the biggest names in show business, fans had high expectations. However, the ambitious project lost an estimated $87.4 million at the box office and brought in seriously polarizing reviews. As such, it derailed Chazelle’s sky-rocketing succcess. Recently, the man himself admitted that it’s put a damper on his upcoming movies.
Damien Chazelle wonders if he can make his next film after Babylon
On the Talking Pictures podcast, Damien Chazelle revealed that he has been “busy writing” his new project, but that he’s not entirely hopeful that it’ll come to pass based on the underwhelming response to Babylon.
“I’m in a sort of trepidatious state of mind, but I have no illusions,” he said. “I won’t get a budget of Babylon size any time soon, or at least not on this next one.
“Certainly, in financial terms, Babylon didn’t work at all. You try to not have that effect what you’re doing creatively, but, at some level, it can’t help but affect it. But maybe that’s okay? I have very mixed mind about it. Maybe I won’t be able to get this one made. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Over the years, Chazelle’s fans have stuck by him, and they weren’t all that happy to hear that he seems to have lost the good will of Hollywood following Babylon.
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“THEY PUT HIM IN DIRECTOR JAIL FOR MAKING PEAK CINEMA,” one X user wrote. Another said: “Mind you, Babylon is his best work.”
“Damien Chazelle news but it’s him saying he doesn’t know if his next film will get made,” another comment said.
One user wrote: “I’m assembling a team. A team to break Damien Chazelle out of director jail. I won’t stand for this!”
“Give this man all the money he needs,” demanded another.
“This is yalls fault for letting Babylon flop,” one comment said.
Although the impact of Babylon can’t be underestimated, perhaps it’s been long enough for the powers that be to give Chazelle another chance. After all, he’s proven himself before.
