Damien Chazelle Announces LA Period Piece 'Babylon'

This has immediately shot up to the top of my most anticipated films of the next few years. 

After First Man failed to garner awards recognition like Damien Chazelle's previous work, La La Land, he, already, very much seems to be back on track, by reuniting with Emma Stone after her Oscar-winning performance with another film about Hollywood... and adding Brad Pitt to the mix.

Babylon is a Hollywood period piece set in the 1920s about the transition from silent films to 'talkies' within the movie industry, with Emma Stone unofficially attached to the role of Clara Bow, Hollywood's first 'it' girl. There has been no information about Brad Pitt's role as of right now. Several studios such as Lionsgate and Paramount have shown interest in the project, but no official deal has been signed; the script is 180 pages long and is rumoured to be budgeted around $80-$100million, most certainly Chazelle's most ambitious project to date.

First Man is gripping. Whiplash is electrifying. La La Land is utterly magnificent... Damien Chazelle has - in my eyes - yet to make any misstep in his career as a director, and regardless of what it is, my eyes are laser-focussed on whatever he does next. Now that we know what its going to be, I am completely sold.

Since the announcement of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, I don't think I've ever been more excited for a film this early in the production process. Babylon, much like La La Land and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, is one of those films that I feel is made for me, because it already seems to embody my taste even at this early stage. In addition, the attachment of apex talent such as Stone and Pitt does nothing but sky-rocket my excitement even more. With Once Upon A Time and Ad Astra, I am sensing a small Brad Pitt renaissance and I am eagerly anticipating his next move. 

Following this announcement, I can't help but wonder when Babylon would be planned for release. Due to the fact that Chazelle is still working on The Eddy and Stone hasn't even begun filming Cruella which is due for release late 2020, I would be surprised if Damien Chazelle followed his every-other-year release structure to see Babylon arrive at 2020 awards season, also due to its seemingly huge production value. However, regardless of when we get it, I need it. I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later.