If there’s anything Hollywood loves more than money it’s making movies about itself. Today, adding to a long list of that, Oscar-winning director, Damien Chazelle the first look of his magnum opus, Babylon starring the likes of Bradd Pitt and Margot Robbie in the lead.   

Babylon will be Chazelle’s first feature film after 2018’s First Man. The director’s previous work includes La La Land, Whiplash, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and more, with him winning the best director nod for the former.  

His latest venture will be set in the golden age of Tinsel Town when films were transitioning from silent moving pictures to talkies. While earlier on in pre-production Emma Stone was supposed to star as one of the leads, she later had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict, making way for Robbie.   

Both Pitt and Robbie play fictionalized characters of 20s icons, with Pitt playing the role of Jack Conrad, inspired by the likes of John Gilbert, Clark Gable, and Douglas Fairbanks. Meanwhile, Robbie will play the role of Nellie LaRoy, inspired by Clara Bow, Jeanne Eagels, Joan Crawford, and Alma Rubens.  

Chazelle also confirmed that the movie will star Diego Calva as Manny Torres, a Mexican actor and Hollywood outsider, meant to represent the audience’s viewpoint. While commenting on the case, Chazelle said, “Part of what was magical about working with them in these roles is that each of them felt like they were really able to make the performance the most personal thing they had done.” In part, the director might have been referring to Pitt and Robbie who starred in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.   

Apart from the two leads, the supporting cast of Babylon includes Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, Jean Smart, and Tobey Maguire.