After the Failure of Babylon, Damien Chazelle is All Set to Craft His Next Masterpiece

Filmmaker Damien Chazelle is one filmmaker from the industry who is hailed for bestowing the film industry with cinematic gems like La La Land, Whiplash, and First Man. Looking at his cinematic journey, he has always proven himself as a visionary director. However, in his business, it isn’t always necessary to have favorable weather. For Damien Chazelle, the downfall came when his 2022 film “Babylon” miserably failed at the box office. For a person who is accustomed to success, it’s indeed hard to endure failure. However, Chazelle isn’t someone who sits back with one failure. Learning from past experience, the filmmaker is all set to revive again and bring another masterpiece.

Damien Chazelle opens up about his next project after Babylon

The results are never in our hands, but learning from previous mistakes and improving them is always in our hands. Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle also adheres to this notion as he is now all set to mark his other masterpiece. During a chat on Ben Mankiewicz’s podcast, ‘Talking Pictures,’ the filmmaker opened up about his plans. Reflecting on his past box office failure, “Babylon,” Chazelle said, “Certainly, in financial terms, Babylon didn’t work at all. You try not to have that affect what you’re doing creatively, but, at some level, it can’t help but affect it. But maybe that’s OK? I have [a] very mixed mind about it. Who knows? Maybe I won’t be able to get this one made. I have no idea. We’ll have to wait and see.” 

Margot Robbie starring Babylon was made on a high budget with a reported $80 million before marketing costs. However, it failed to cover its costs as the Paramount Pictures release opened to a disastrous $3.6 million before topping out at $15.3 million domestic. With international grosses, it finished at $63.4 million worldwide.

Chazelle continued by discussing his current status in Hollywood. He said, “I’ve been head in the sand. I’ve been sort of busy writing. I’ll get a real taste of how it’s changed or not once I get to finish this script and try to actually get it made. I’m in a sort of trepidatious state of mind, but I have no illusions. I won’t get a budget of Babylon size any time soon, or at least not on this next one.”

However, the director didn’t reveal much about the script he is working on. But looking at his previous works, it can be said that something great is in the making.