Following the unfortunate mixed reception to Damien Chazelle’s bold and ambitious 2022 filmBabylon, those who have followed the director’s career have been especially curious about what his next move would be creatively.Deadline, based on a post from Daniel Richtman, is reporting that the director’s next film is a biopic. The report indicates that Chazelle plans to tackle the life of Evil Knievel, with William Monahan (The Departed)set to write the script for the movie and forLeonardo DiCaprioto star.
A project about Knievel’s life had been reported before, though, at the time, it was Darren Aronofsky who was circling the project as director, with Channing Tatum potentially starring in the film before plans fell through. Now, should Richtman’s report be believed to be accurate, Chazelle plans to follow up his massive budgeted film about the silent film era of Hollywood with a less expensive biopic about the legendary stuntperson. DiCaprio, who previously played the partner of a stuntman inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, will seemingly become one himself should this rumor prove true.
Chazelle is no stranger to biopics, having followed upLa La Landwith 2018’sFirst Man, a film that recounts the life of Astronaut Neil Armstrong in the years leading up to the Apollo 11 mission. With Gosling in the lead role as Armstrong,First Manreceived critical acclaim but struggled at the box office. Should a Knievel biopic be the next step in the director’s career, having a name like Leonardo DiCaprio behind the project wouldn’t be a bad idea.
‘First Man’ & ‘Babylon’ Demonstrate Chazelle’s Struggle at the Box Office
The same report from Deadline also seems to suggest that the Knievel film project would have a moderate budget, especially compared toBabylon’s$80 million budget(which only grossed $15 million domestically). Chazelle has had success earlier in his career, with the smaller budgeted filmsWhiplashandLa La Landseeinga much better box office return. If anything, a return to small-scale filmmaking may help Chazelle find the footing he needs to make a successful comeback.
Leonardo DiCaprio Started His TV Career on an Unlikely Show
Leonardo DiCaprio’s first small screen appearance was a guest spot on 1989’s The New Lassie.
Despite being made for barely anything compared to the rest of Chazelle’s filmography,Whiplashperfectly showcased thatthe director was capable of powerful storytellingwhile working with minimal resources. There is potential for the same thing to happen with a Knievel biopic, and despite whatever payday DiCaprio might receive if he’s actually involved in the film,it could be much more intimate and small-scale than what the director has done recently.
Of course, much of this report from Deadline and Daniel Richtman is unverified, especially since Paramount, who would hypothetically produce and distribute the film, has yet to provide any comment on the validity of the information. Despite that, a collaboration between Chazelle and DiCaprio is an exciting concept that would undoubtedly get audiences' attention if it ever came to be. For now, all we can do is appreciate whatChazelle has done up to this pointand hope that his next project is more of a box office success.
