We may have a La La Land reunion in the works. Studios are ready to bid on Damien Chazelle’s next project, Babylon. The acclaimed writer & director has finished the script and plans it as his next film. Emma Stone, who won The Oscar for Chazelle’s La La Land, is in early talks to join the film.
If Emma Stone should take the role, she’d be playing Clara Bow, an early sex symbol and box office star who was Hollywood’s first “it” girl. Stone has actually been loosely attached to the project for a while but a formal deal has not been made yet.
Rumor has it that the film is a bold auteur piece with a significant budget. It’s also reportedly set in the 1920s during the transition from silent film to talkies. Lionsgate is the current frontrunner to get the film, especially since they distributed La La Land, but other studios are also in the mix and the Lionsgate’s participation isn’t a done deal just yet. It’s also being reported that streaming is another option, with Netflix also being very interested in the film.
For those who are striving for original ideas, Chazelle’s script is apparently getting a lot of buzz in the industry because of its fresh take. Chazzelle, with only three major releases under his belt, has achieved great critical acclaim for each of his projects so it’s no wonder that several studios are wanting to snatch up what he does next.
Chazelle last directed First Man and has separately set up to executive produce an event series at Apple TV.