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Eternals Director Chloe Zhao Says Denis Villeneuve Films Influenced MCU Flick


There is little doubt that filmmakers get inspiration from other movies when working on their own films. But where did Chloe Zhao turn to when she was working on Eternals? The Nomadland director has admitted that her take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe flick was greatly influenced by Denis Villeneuve's movies.

Zhao and Villeneuve recently took part in Harper's Bazaar's filmmaker conversations where they discussed each others' projects. When the Dune helmer praised Zhao for her contributions to cinema, the Rider director returned the compliment with an awesome admission.

"When I went to pitch Eternals, I had stills from your films as references," Zhao told Villeneuve. She then confessed that she truly looks up to the Enemy director.

"I'm naturally drawn to filmmakers who have a very strong hand in world-building. When I watch your films, even though they're of different genres, from Sicario to Arrival to Prisoners and then Blade Runner 2049, you managed to build such visceral worlds I can feel and almost touch," Zhao said.

It's not hard to imagine why Villeneuve's works was a point of reference for Zhao on Eternals. After all, the films she mentioned have a grand yet grounded feel. It's an atmosphere that would work best for a film that's going to be as huge as Eternals. Needless to say, we can't wait to see how Villeneuve's movies have inspired Zhao's upcoming project.

Eternals will star Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. The movie will hit theaters on November 5, 2021.

Villenueve's latest project Dune will star Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. The film is scheduled for release in theaters and on HBO Max on October 22, 2021.

Related: Simu Liu and Awkwafina Didn't Know About Shang-Chi Mid-Credits Scene Until Day of Filming

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