Damien Chazelle reflects on how the failure of ‘Babylon’ will shape his upcoming projects

Los Angeles, March 2 (IANS) The impact of failure has hit Damien Chazelle, known for hits like ‘Whiplash’ and ‘La La Land’, with his recent film ‘Babylon’ failing to make a mark at the box-office. The movie, starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, struggled with a domestic collection of $15 million against an $80 million budget and received mixed reviews.

Chazelle acknowledges the financial setback, stating during TCM’s ‘Talking Pictures podcast’, “Certainly, in financial terms, Babylon didn’t work at all.” He expresses concern about the impact on future projects, admitting, “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 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.”

Despite the setback, Chazelle remains focused on his work, stating, “I’ve been head in the sand. I’ve been sort of busy writing. So I’ll get a real taste of how it’s changed or not (since Babylon) 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.”

The director’s reflection on the impact of ‘Babylon’ on his career suggests a challenging road ahead in terms of securing funding for future projects. With no awards received and a disappointing box-office performance, Chazelle’s creative journey faces uncertainties as he navigates the aftermath of the film’s underwhelming reception in the industry.