Damien Chazelle Announces an Untitled Project with Paramount

Damien Chazelle, who gave us the commercially and critically successful “La La Land,”  faced box-office failure with his latest feature,  Babylon. Now, he is all set to make his sixth feature over at Paramount. News of Chazelle’s next project comes out of CinemaCon courtesy of The Playlist’s Gregory Ellwood. However, apart from its official announcement, nothing much has been revealed about Chazelle’s upcoming project. As of now, the details regarding the film’s title, official logline, and star cast are yet to be decided. Nonetheless, what’s confirmed is that the project will be helmed and written by Chazelle. Additionally, he will also produce the film with his wife, Olivia Hamilton, through their Wild Chickens Production banner as part of their first-look deal with Paramount.

Damien Chazelle marks a comeback with his untitled project for Paramount

The last feature film Damien Chazelle directed was the 2022 epic historical black comedy drama film  Babylon. Upon its release, the film met with a polarized response from critics and was considered a box-office bomb, grossing $63 million against a production budget of $78–80 million. Since his last directorial failed miserably at the box office, Chazelle knew that he wouldn’t get the same budget to burn for his next one. During an appearance at TCM‘s “Talking Pictures” podcast, the filmmaker said, “I’m not going to get a budget of “Babylon” size any time soon, or at least not on this next one.” Chazelle admitted that “in financial terms, “Babylon” didn’t work at all. I’m really of mixed mind about it, so I guess I need to try and do what I would have done regardless.”

That’s the mindset that inspires millions to have a sportsman’s spirit and not give up by facing failure. Though Chazelle’s Babylon failed to bring moviegoers to the theaters, resulting in a commercial failure, Chazelle’s supreme directorial vision can’t be denied. Even so, Babylon fared well critically in certain markets. It received divisive reviews as many considered it excessive yet brilliant and bold in equal measure. Moreover, it received five nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, winning Best Original Score), nine nominations at the 28th Critics’ Choice Awards (including Best Picture), three nominations at the 76th British Academy Film Awards, and three nominations at the 95th Academy Awards. 

In fact, if the film is reevaluated, it has the potential to change viewers’ minds about its critical reception. 

As for Chazelle, it’s not that he went on a complete hiatus after Babylon as he did bag some projects that included producing David Ayer‘s upcoming survival drama Heart Of The Beast through his Paramount deal. He also recently directed another short film for Louis Vuitton with Bradley Cooper.