Chloé Zhao has shared reflections on her experience working on ‘Eternals’, the Marvel Studios film, and how that experience has influenced her new work, ‘Hamnet’.
During a recent interview, the director described her time in the superhero universe as a revealing process, particularly regarding world-building, a skill that has been crucial for her approach to ‘Hamnet’.
Zhao emphasized that while having a large budget for ‘Eternals’ provided significant creative opportunities, it also came with its own challenges.
A lot of money can sometimes be dangerous
The director described this abundance of resources as “quite dangerous”, suggesting that sometimes large budgets can complicate the creative process and narrative focus. Despite this, Zhao acknowledged that the lessons learned from developing such a vast and complex world in ‘Eternals’ allowed her to approach ‘Hamnet’ with a new perspective and confidence.
‘Hamnet’, which explores the life of playwright William Shakespeare and his relationship with his family, has been seen as a return to a more intimate and personal approach for Zhao.
The director has emphasized that the skills acquired while working on such an ambitious production as ‘Eternals’ have allowed her to create an emotionally resonant environment in her new film. According to her, the ability to build worlds has become essential to articulate the human depths in her narrative.
The audience is eager to see how these experiences converge in ‘Hamnet’, as Zhao has proven to be an exceptional storyteller across both ends of production, from the epic to the intimate. With the release of ‘Hamnet’ on the horizon, fans and critics are preparing for a work that could further redefine the career of this talented filmmaker.