On the occasion of the release of Les Eternels, had the chance to go to the press conference with Chloé Zhao. A twenty-minute meeting at the Bristol Hotel, with the Oscar-winning director, presented by YouTuber Joe Hume. As a reminder, Les Eternels has been in theaters since November 3rd!
What inspired you about Jack Kirby (the creator of The Eternals)?
I asked myself the question: why did Jack Kirby create The Eternals? I felt that he wanted to take a step aside from the usual narratives to give a new sound to the genre. It was perfect timing for us to take a step aside in the MCU. It was very exciting to see how to deconstruct some clichés of the genre.
How do you balance novelty and continuity with the MCU?
The film takes place immediately after the events of Avengers: Endgame, when everyone returns to Earth. For me it is a very important ecological element. It's great to have a story that takes place at this precise moment, and its consequences on the planet. I was very encouraged to make a film that was a bit unique, with brand new characters, totally disconnected from others. 
What were your influences, especially in relation to manga?
Manga is a tight part of my life. There are two things that influenced me. First the tone of the manga, which is totally unique, which goes from serious to funny in a few seconds. I wanted to take that with me. Then there's action. The treatment of the action is crazy, as in Dragon Ball Z. I wanted to recreate that.
What is the voice we hear at the end of the film?
He's someone we'll soon meet in the MCU. He's one of my favorite superheroes.
How did you approach this transition between Nomadland and Les Eternels?
I don't know how else to do things with my gut. Every decision I make, my relationship with my crew, the actors, my camera, it's always something I approach with my instincts. I must feel interested. If I don't feel it, I'm not even going to go on set. For me it's the same whether it's Nomadland or Les Eternels. Marvel Studios is very different from other big traditional Hollywood studios. There are fewer people in charge. There are only three of them. I only talked to two people to make all the decisions. They created a bubble to let me work the way I wanted, while securing me if I ever went in the wrong direction. 
Does Les Eternels correspond to your usual themes?
I think that in my films, there are always characters who need to be master of their destiny. But the way to achieve this is inaccessible. In The Eternals it is about their liver and their self-awareness. I think I put them in that situation because I think you can't live alone. It takes a connection with something bigger. I am not religious but I think there is something missing in me by not believing in God. So I try to build a relationship with nature and I ask myself why I exist in the universe, what is my purpose on Earth? So my characters struggle with that balance, with the sense of self, and something bigger.
Could you make a live adaptation of a manga?
It's a difficult question, because it's hard to make a manga adaptation. If I had to make one it would be Trigun. But it's a huge classic, and you have to be careful with manga adaptations. I wouldn't want to be responsible for a shipwreck…
How did you select your music?
It's a very eclectic collection. The choices come from me and represent a bit of my musical tastes. These songs, whether it's Pink Floyd, BTS, The Foreigners, it's all the music I love. It's as simple as that. Pink Floyd doesn't often appear in movies because the rights are extremely expensive. But I wanted Pink Floyd because it's universal, it speaks to everyone, it was essential for me. 
How did Marvel approach you? Did you get carte blanche?
When I did Nomadland, I was really alone in this world. I can't make a film like The Eternals alone. It's a global vision, it's a collaboration. I'm not looking for freedom. I wanted us to have a global vision, to all agree.
What will be your next project?
Bob Dylan said, "He who is not busy being born is busy dying." I will always look for new projects to be reborn every time. Each time I arrive totally naked in a new project, and I have to learn again to grow, to be reborn. I get terrified every time but I need that feeling, otherwise I'm unable to create. Right now, I'm working on a new adaptation of Dracula with Universal. https://youtu.be/Fn8-LOuP9Zk
