Chloe Zhao Was Originally Supposed to Direct ‘Black Widow’

Much has been made about the uneasy combination of Chloe Zhao and Marvel Studios, which resulted in “Eternals” — the worst-reviewed MCU instalment and a catastrophic commercial failure.

During her appearance on Puck’s The Town podcast, Zhao pushed back on the notion that Marvel had “discovered” her. The truth, she explained, is that she reached out first. When asked if the studio had approached her and she merely signaled interest, Zhao interjected: “No, I called them,” she said, laughing.

From there, Zhao explained that her first meetings weren’t about “Eternals,” but about “Black Widow,” which she had originally beem attached to direct. Ultimately, those plans were derailed by timing.

“It might be a mutual calling. I went in at first for ‘Black Widow,’ and then there was a scheduling conflict. And then when Nate Moore, my producer for “Eternals,” showed me the treatment, I went, Oh, wow. I get to have all these immortals, like a Greek play, to discuss humanity. And then I get to create monsters and space gods, right?”

Crucially, Zhao adds that she’d happily return to Marvel if the chance arises. “I would, yeah,” she admitted. “With the right story, if it chooses me.”

Taken as a whole, Zhao’s remarks suggest that, even with “Eternals” widely viewed as a misstep, her stint in the MCU might not be over. Whether she gets another shot ultimately rests with Kevin Feige — though considering how things unfolded before, a return feels unlikely.

Regardless, Zhao has now returned to more personal cinema this fall with “Hamnet.” It’s earned strong reviews and, more or less, cleansed the stink off “Eternals,” which Zhao admits she’s “really proud” of making.