Babylon

***Babylon*** is an American epic period comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li. It chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters during Hollywood's transition from silent films to sound films in the late 1920s.

*Babylon* is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 23, 2022, by Paramount Pictures.

## Premise

Young Mexican American actor Manny Torres pursues a career in 1920s Hollywood, starting as an assistant.

## Cast

* Brad Pitt as Jack Conrad
* Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy
* Diego Calva as Manny Torres, a Mexican-American film assistant
* Jean Smart as Elinor St. John
* Jovan Adepo as Sidney Palmer, a jazz trumpet player
* Li Jun Li as Lady Fay Zhu
* Tobey Maguire as James McKay
* Lukas Haas as George Munn
* Max Minghella as Irving Thalberg
* Samara Weaving
* Olivia Wilde
* Spike Jonze
* Katherine Waterston as Ruth Arzner
* Flea as Bob Levine
* Jeff Garlin as Don Wallach
* P. J. Byrne
* Rory Scovel as The Count
* Eric Roberts
* Ethan Suplee
* Damon Gupton
* Phoebe Tonkin
* Chloe Fineman as Marion Davies
* Karina Fontes as Jen
* Troy Metcalf
* Olivia Hamilton as Ruth Adler
* Danny Jolles
* Lewis Tan
* Telvin Griffin as Reginald

## Production

### Development

It was announced in July 2019 that Damien Chazelle had set his next project, a period drama set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Lionsgate was the frontrunner to acquire the project, with Emma Stone and Brad Pitt in the mix to star. In November, Paramount Pictures acquired worldwide rights to the project, with Stone and Pitt still circling roles. Pitt confirmed his involvement in January 2020, describing the film as being set when the silent film era transitioned into sound. He will play a character modeled on actor and director John Gilbert.

In December 2020, Stone exited the film due to scheduling conflicts, with Margot Robbie then in early negotiations to replace her, and Li Jun Li was also cast. Robbie was confirmed in March 2021, with Jovan Adepo and Diego Calva also joining.

In June, Katherine Waterston, Max Minghella, Flea, Samara Weaving, Rory Scovel, Lukas Haas, Eric Roberts, P.J. Byrne, Damon Gupton, Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, Phoebe Tonkin, and Tobey Maguire (who is also an executive producer for the film), joined the cast. In July 2021, Jean Smart joined the cast. In August 2021, Chloe Fineman, Jeff Garlin, Telvin Griffin  and Troy Metcalf joined the cast of the film.

### Filming

Filming was initially set to take place in California in mid-2020 after securing a state tax credit but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming began on July 1, 2021, and wrapped on October 21, 2021.

### Music

Justin Hurwitz, a frequent collaborator of Chazelle, composed the film's score. Two tracks from the score, "Call Me Manny" and "Voodoo Mama," were released digitally on November 10, 2022, the latter track being used to underscore the film's first trailer. The soundtrack album will be released by Interscope Records on December 9, 2022.

## Release

*Babylon* was first screened for critics and industry on November 14, 2022, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles and in New York City the following day. It is scheduled to be released on December 23, 2022. The film was initially scheduled for a December 25, 2021, limited release and a January 7, 2022, wide release, but was later delayed by an entire year, with a December 25, 2022 limited release, and a January 6, 2023 wide release, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October, the film was moved two days earlier to the current date and is set for a wide release.

### Marketing

The film's first red-banded trailer premiered on September 12, 2022, at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival during a Q&A event with Damien Chazelle and TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. It was released to the public the following day, alongside character posters of the main cast. Noting its uncensored nudity, profanity and drug-use, several publications compared the trailer's atmosphere to that of films such as *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013) and *The Great Gatsby* (2013), which stars Robbie and Maguire, respectively. A featurette about the making of the film was released on November 21, 2022. The second trailer for the film and its theatrical release poster were released on November 28, 2022.

## References

1. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 27, 2022). "'Babylon': Margot Robbie and Diego Calva Will Campaign for Lead Oscars Despite Paramount FYC Site Error (EXCLUSIVE)". *Variety*. Retrieved October 28, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
2. ↑ "California Film Commission Film and Television Tax Credit Program Progress Report – November 2021". California Film Commission.
3. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (October 18, 2022). "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon,' Starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, Opens Nationwide on Christmas". *Variety*. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
4. ↑ Sachdeva, Maanya. "Diego Calva: Fans 'frustrated' over Mexican actor 'being left out of headlines' about Babylon", April 29, 2022.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Ford, Rebecca (September 7, 2022). "First Look: Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie Promise to Light Up *Babylon*". *Vanity Fair*. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kroll, Justin (2021-03-03). "'Fences' Star Jovan Adepo Joins Ensemble Of Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' At Paramount". *Deadline Hollywood*.
7. ↑ Squires, Bethy (2021-06-02). "Damien Chazelle's *Babylon* Adds Max Minghella, Flea, and Samara Weaving to Cast". *Vulture*.
8. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (April 28, 2022). "Damien Chazelle's Star-Studded Hollywood Drama 'Babylon' Drops Footage at CinemaCon". *Variety*. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
9. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (2021-07-20). "Samara Weaving on 'Snake Eyes', Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon,' and Why She Loves Her Stunt Double". *Collider*.
10. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-06-02). "Katherine Waterston Joins Damien Chazelle's 1920s Hollywood Pic 'Babylon'". *Deadline Hollywood*.
11. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-06-02). "Max Minghella, Flea, Samara Weaving & More Round Out Cast For Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'". *Deadline Hollywood*.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "The Shooting of Babylon, the New Film by Damien Chazelle, Is Over". *techypu* (2021-10-24).
13. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 15, 2019). "Brad Pitt Also Circling Damien Chazelle's Period Hollywood 'Babylon' With Emma Stone". *Deadline Hollywood*.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 11, 2019). "Paramount Lands WW Rights On Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' With Emma Stone, Brad Pitt Circling Period Hollywood Drama". *Deadline Hollywood*.
15. ↑ Sharf, Zach (November 10, 2019). "Brad Pitt Relives the 'Fight Club' World Premiere and Being Stoned As the Film Bombed". *IndieWire*.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Galuppo, Mia (December 2, 2020). "Margot Robbie in Talks to Replace Emma Stone in Damien Chazelle's "Babylon". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
17. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 2, 2020). "Emma Stone Exits Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'; Margot Robbie In Early Talks To Reunite With Brad Pitt In Period Hollywood Drama".
18. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (December 2, 2020). "Damien Chazelle Casts Li Jun Li as Anna May Wong in 'Babylon'". *Collider*.
19. ↑ Kit, Borys (March 16, 2021). "Rising Mexican Actor Nabs "Critical" Role Opposite Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt in Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
20. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2 June 2021). "Katherine Waterston Joins Damien Chazelle's 1920s Hollywood Pic 'Babylon'". *Deadline Hollywood*.
21. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2 June 2021). "Max Minghella, Flea, Samara Weaving & More Round Out Cast For Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'". *Deadline Hollywood*.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Kit, Borys (June 24, 2021). "Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, Phoebe Tonkin, Tobey Maguire Join Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
23. ↑ Kit, Borys (2021-07-12). "Jean Smart Joins Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie in Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-12.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
24. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 2, 2021). "Paramount Pictures' 'Babylon' Rounds Out Cast With Chloe Fineman, Jeff Garlin & Troy Metcalf". *Deadline Hollywood*.
25. ↑ Sandberg, Bryn (November 12, 2019). "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' Among 13 Films Set to Shoot in California in 2020". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
26. ↑ Mendoza, Bryan [@joeyprimo] (October 21, 2021). "And that's a wrap on Damien Chazelle's "Babylon", easily one of the toughest projects I've worked on. Cheers to everyone involved, without a doubt one of the absolute best crews in all of Hollywood. #Babylon #soundspeeds #setlife #iatselocal695 t.co/yKwBLaCBRK" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022 – via Twitter.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
27. ↑ Alvarenga, Emily. "Extras needed for 'Babylon' movie filming near SCV", June 21, 2021.
28. ↑ Dawson, Angela (October 5, 2021). "Swedish Cinematographer Linus Sandgren Talks Of Bonding Experience On 'No Time To Die'". *Forbes*. Retrieved 2022-11-21.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
29. ↑ Blistein, Jon (November 10, 2022). "The First Songs From the 'Babylon' Score Sound as Wild as Damien Chazelle's Next Film Looks". *Rolling Stone*. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
30. ↑ Davis, Clayton (November 15, 2022). "'Babylon' Brings Cocaine-Fueled Orgies, Elephant Feces and Blackface to the Oscar Race". *Variety*. Retrieved November 29, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
31. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 18, 2022). "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' Now Going Wide On Dec. 23". *Deadline Hollywood*.
32. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-01-07). "Paramount Removes Lee Daniels' 'Billie Holiday' From Schedule As Pic Heads To Hulu; Dates Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'". *Deadline Hollywood*.
33. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (2022-10-18). "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' Moves Up Nationwide Release to Christmas". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 2022-11-15.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
34. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 12, 2022). "Damien Chazelle Shows Off 'Babylon' Trailer At TIFF". *Deadline Hollywood*.
35. ↑ Burton, Carson (September 13, 2022). "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' Trailer Showcases Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie in Scandalous Story of Golden Age Hollywood". *Variety*. Retrieved November 29, 2022.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
36. ↑ King, Jack (September 13, 2022). "Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie go full *Wolf of Wall Street* in the *Babylon* trailer".
37. ↑ Billington, Alex (September 13, 2022). "First Trailer for Chazelle's 'Babylon' with Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie". *FirstShowing.net*.
38. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (2022-09-12). "Damien Chazelle Calls 'Babylon' His "Hardest" Shoot, Debuts Wild Trailer at TIFF". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 2022-11-27.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
39. ↑ Richard, Nate (2022-09-14). "'Babylon': Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know So Far". *Collider*.
40. ↑ Tyrrell, Caitlin (November 22, 2022). "New Babylon Behind The Scenes Featurette Welcomes You To The Madness". *Screen Rant*.
41. ↑ Barfield, Charles (November 28, 2022). "'Babylon' Trailer: Here's Another Look At Damien Chazelle's All-Star Period Film Arriving This Christmas". *The Playlist*.