After winning the Best Director Oscar for “Nomadland” in 2021, Chloe Zhao had the door open to make whatever she wanted. She decided to make a Marvel movie.
“Eternals,” an unmitigated MCU disaster, did not work out for 39-year-old Zhao. She’s now trying to find her artistic footing again, this time with another mainstream endeavour.
Today, Zhao confirmed that she’s in the middle of writing the screenplay for her upcoming “Dracula” movie. We hadn’t heard anything about the project since it was announced in early 2021.
Zhao’s version is described as an original, futuristic, sci-fi Western with themes of being on society’s fringes. “Dracula” is being spearheaded by Monster-verse studio Universal.
Zhao has clearly decided to let go of her more humanist indie roots and has sold herself to big studio machinery. As for the reason why she’s decided to tackle Dracula, Zhao told THR in 2021, “I’ve always been fascinated by vampires.”
After slightly crashing her stock with one of the worst-reviewed Marvel movies of all-time, “Eternals,” Zhao is attempting a big production comeback.
I do wonder how much creative freedom Universal will give her on this one. Zhao is set to produce the film via her Highwayman banner alongside Universal.
Zhao’s past efforts include “The Rider” and “Songs My Brother Taught Me.” She definitely has talent.