Once you’ve sold out as a director, the big-studio hook grabs a hold of you and the money keeps pouring in like a drug. That’s what seems to be happening with Chloe Zhao, who is now rumored to be boarding Kevin Feige’s upcoming Star Wars film.
This highly disturbing rumor comes to us from One Take News and Cinelinx who claim that the “Eternals” director is “locked-in” to helm Feige’s forthcoming Star Wars project. The media outlet says they vetted the source and it is accurate. An announcement could be made imminently.
Zhao had expressed interest in directing a Star Wars feature in the past. “I would, I’ll do anything Kevin asked me to do,” Zhao told The Playlist back in October.
For the time being, Zhao is still trying to claw back from her “Eternals” fiasco, the MCU film has garnered negative reviews (check out that 47% rating on RottenTomatoes), but did earn over $161M at the global box office thus far. That’s all that matters to the studio heads.
In my 11.02.21 piece unsubtly titled “Chloe Zhao Sold Out”, I write about the artistic demise of the Chinese-born filmmaker:
“It’s not like I was big fan of “Nomadland,” but at least it was an artful and risk-taking venture for her. Her previous efforts, “The Rider” and “Songs My Brother Taught Me,” were superior and beautifully made. She has talent. You’d think Zhao would decide to go back to her indie roots next (“Nomadland,” “The Rider”), but no, her next film will be a “Dracula” reboot.”
Here's a small scoop for Sunday night. Nothing too exciting, since it concerns the once-promising Ben Wheatley, a filmmaker who broke out with the cult-horror gut-punch of "Kill List" and "A Field in England.”