Anora has truly established itself as the definitive champion at the 97th Annual Academy Awards, with the talented Sean Baker personally securing an impressive four Oscars. With such a remarkable collection of Oscar awards, one might assume that Baker would choose to follow in the footsteps of other celebrated independent filmmakers like Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) and Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), opting for a high-profile blockbuster from Marvel or Disney. However, that assumption would be incorrect.
During an engaging discussion on THR‘s podcast, It Happened in Hollywood, Baker revealed that he is “still exploring some ideas” for his forthcoming project. However, he was clear to state, “don’t expect a Marvel film.”
He emphatically declared, “It’s not going to happen,” adding, “I’m intentionally going to stay in the same wheelhouse and with approximately the same budget. I find great enjoyment in working within the realm of 100 percent independent filmmaking. I am not collaborating with even a small studio. Instead, I am producing my film independently and following the traditional route of aiming for a bidding war or licensing the movie. This is the only way to maintain full autonomy and control over my creative vision. So, anticipate more of the same.”
Even if Baker continues to provide us with “more of the same,” it is certain that his next project will attract significant attention and interest from audiences and critics alike.
Turning our focus to Mikey Madison, who earned the prestigious Academy Award for Best Actress, she also faced an array of exciting project opportunities but chose a path that surprised many. Reports indicated she was considered for a key role in Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars film starring Ryan Gosling, yet she ultimately decided against it. Additionally, there were discussions about her being offered a lead role in Zach Cregger’s forthcoming Resident Evil reboot.
Instead, it was announced just last month that she will star alongside Kirsten Dunst in Reptilia, an innovative feature film directed by Alejandro Landes Echavarría (Monos). This captivating movie centers around a dental hygienist who becomes entangled with a mysterious mermaid, leading her into the dark and murky underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade. The film is based on an intriguing script penned by Landes Echavarría and Duke Merriman. Filming is anticipated to commence this fall, promising an engaging cinematic experience.
For those interested in delving deeper, you can explore a glowing review of Baker’s acclaimed film Anora written by our very own Chris Bumbray, available right here.
