Babylon Movie: Plot, Cast, Release Date and More

Holiday season releases are some of the most anticipated every single year, and 2022 is no exception. Next month, Paramount Pictures’ Babylon, written and directed by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of La La Land fame, is sure to become a hit at the box office. Featuring a star-studded cast and a storyline about the Golden Age of Hollywood, Babylon absolutely tops our list of must-sees this season!

After a delay, the much-anticipated movie Babylon is finally being released and the internet is going gaga over the cast, the costumes, the theme, and everything in between. Damien Chazelle has truly gone all out for Babylon, and we can’t wait to tell you more about it. Here’s everything you need to know about Babylon, from the cast to the plot, and much more:

Be a part of something bigger. From Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle, BABYLON arrives in theatres everywhere December 23. #BabylonMovie pic.twitter.com/ZzyZyYTX5J

— Babylon (@babylonmovie) November 14, 2022

What Is The Plot of Babylon?

Babylon takes place during the 1920s in Los Angeles and Hollywood. It is a fictional account of the film industry’s transition from silent films to sound films. The majority of characters are fictional, but there are portrayals of a few real-life stars from the period, as well. The major change in Tinseltown contributed to the rise of some, but the fall of others. The two main characters in the film, Jack Conrad and Nellie LaRoy, are two actors at very different stages in their careers when the conversion to sound occurs.

Jack Conrad is a fictional character, loosely based on the life of silent film actor John Gilbert. Gilbert is famously cited as an example of an actor whose career declined after “talkies” were introduced, but in truth, his failure to make the transition had more to do with studio politics than the quality of his voice. It will be interesting to see if this detail makes it into Babylon’s plot!

The character of Nellie LaRoy is an amalgamation of starlets from the era, including Clara Bow, Alma Rubens, Jeanna Eagels, and Joan Crawford. These actresses all found or had continued success in one way or another once sound films became popular. 

The Cast of Babylon

As would be expected given the subject matter, the cast of Babylon is entirely star-studded. Brad Pitt – yes, the Brad Pitt, stars as Jack Conrad. We would be willing to bet Brad Pitt needs no introduction, but just in case… Pitt is an American actor and film producer, as well as the recipient of accolades such as two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award (more commonly known as a BAFTA Film Award), a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2022 alone, the 58-year-old star starred in the action comedy film Bullet Train and appeared in another action-adventure comedy The Lost City. Additionally, he has produced the films She Said and Blonde, as well as executive-produced Women Talking and Father of the Bride.

Australian actress and producer Margot Robbie stars as Nellie LaRoy, and we are forever in awe of her ability to (convincingly) affect different accents. Robbie is perhaps best known for her roles as Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn in DC Films’ The Suicide Squad franchise and Naomi Lapaglia in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Robbie described the role of LaRoy as “the most physically and emotionally draining character I’ve ever played”.

The cast is rounded out by big names such as Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Tobey Maguire, Samara Weaving, Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, Flea, Phoebe Tonkin, and Chloe Fineman, just to name a few.

When and Where Can You Watch Babylon?

The release of Babylon has been a long time coming. It was announced in 2019 and scheduled to film in 2020 with a release date of Christmas 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed production back by over a year, just as it did for several other movies and tv shows, but it is finally here. Babylon was filmed in and around Los Angeles, California, from July through October 2021 and will finally come to theatres on December 23, 2022. The film will be released worldwide on January 6, 2023.

Is There a Trailer for Babylon?

The trailer for Babylon gives us a glimpse of the glamour and debauchery of the Golden Age of Hollywood and what we can expect to see in theatres. The synopsis alone is enough to make us want to see the film, but having seen the over-the-top trailer, we know there is no way we can skip out on Babylon! We highly recommend heading to the theatre to see this rather than waiting for it to become available for streaming if only to witness the glitter and gold in all its glory.

Additionally, Paramount Studios uploaded a featurette speaking with some of Babylon’s cast members and showing some footage from behind the scenes. You can check that out here! The director admits that this has been the biggest thing that he has tried to do so far, which only makes it all the more exciting. The actors and actresses look thrilled to be a part of something so big and this thrill will only translate to something bigger on screen!

Conclusion

Knowing all that we do about Babylon, we can hardly wait to go to the movies! Boom operator Bryan Mendoza tweeted that Babylon was “easily one of the toughest projects” he’s worked on, additionally praising the crew as being “without a doubt one of the absolute best in all of Hollywood.” When the cast and crew recognize how special a project is, we cannot help but believe them. Do you love Old Hollywood stories? How do you feel about historical dramas? Sound off in the comments, and do recommend some of your favorites!