Taylor Swift’s unparalleled influence in the music realm has turned her into a global phenomenon, with close to a dozen studio albums (10, to be exact) cementing her as one of the most illustrious artists of this century. However, she isn’t a one-trick pony. The acclaimed artist has been making significant strides in the film industry as well and we’re not just talking about the occasional cameo. Swift has showcased her directorial flair in various music videos, notably turning one into the short film, All Too Well, which starred Sadie Sink, Dylan O’Brien, and Swift herself.
Apparently, Swift’s directorial talents haven’t gone unnoticed. Among those who have seen and admired her directorial prowess is Shawn Levy, the maestro behind the much-anticipated multiversal MCU film, Deadpool 3. Levy, who was also in All Too Well: The Short Film, recently lauded Swift’s artistic vision in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
What’s perhaps most interesting is Levy’s intriguing comparison between the pop icon and a living legend in the, one and only, Steven Spielberg.
Describing Swift’s in-depth vision, Levy stated, “Taylor, the depth of her vision for how she wants a creative piece to be, whether it’s a lyric, a melody, a bridge, a concert tour, a video, it’s profound. It’s profoundly vivid, and she has the strength of her convictions.” He then related an anecdote about Spielberg, explaining, “Spielberg was on the set of a movie he produced that I directed, called Real Steel, and I said to him, ‘How do you know it’s the right shot?’ His answer was, ‘The way you see it, that makes it right.'” Levy believes Swift embodies that Spielbergian philosophy, emphasizing that the true essence of artistry lies in trusting one’s instinct. He confidently remarked, “I think she has the makings of a hell of a director.”
The recognition from Levy comes at an exciting time for Swift’s cinematic journey. Her just-released concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, has been making waves at the box office, amassing $100 million in pre-sales alone, positioning it as the highest-grossing concert film of all time even before the end of its opening weekend.
The talk of the town, however, is Swift’s planned feature film directorial debut. In December, Searchlight Pictures signed Swift to direct her maiden feature, based on an original screenplay she authored. Swift, already a two-time MTV VMA Award winner for Best Director, seems primed to carry this success forward into the realm of feature filmmaking.
Despite these achievements, what’s drawing significant attention is Levy’s high praise, describing her as a “generational voice and creative force,” is how Levy describes Swift. He believes she might eclipse icons such as Kanye West and even Beyoncé. He noted that the number of talents with such profound vision is short, and Swift undoubtedly stands among them.
Naturally, fans couldn’t help but speculate that Taylor Swift would make her way to Deadpool 3 for a cameo. After all, after Reynolds successfully roped in Hugh Jackman to reprise his role as Wolverine, nothing is impossible.
In the meantime, Swift’s ever-growing influence across industries has attracted the spotlight. With Shawn Levy drawing parallels between her and Spielberg, the bar is set high. Considering Swift’s track record and her knack for continuously surpassing expectations, the world waits to witness her next artistic masterpiece.
Swift’s potential move to the big screen, coupled with her already proven adeptness at directing, hints that she may be recognized as one of the multi-hyphenate artists of our generation in time. As for Levy’s commendation, it might be more prophetic than hyperbolic, suggesting that Swift could indeed be the Spielberg of her era.
Only time will tell, but given her history, Taylor Swift’s future in film seems as bright as her past in music.
