Robert Eggers Says The Northman could be His Last ‘Big’ Film

If you’ve watched the films of Robert Eggers, you’ll know that he has a penchant for arthouse filmmaking, so it was kind of a surprise that he would make what seemed like a big-budget studio movie with The Northman. As it turned out, even Eggers wasn’t safe from studio interference when it came to making his big-budget movie.

Talking to the New Yorker (via Cinema Solace), Eggers explained that he had a hard time editing The Northman because of clashes with the studio. He says, “I don’t think I’ll do it again. Even if it means not making a film this big ever again. I’d like to make one even bigger. But, without control, I don’t know.”

It would certainly be a bummer if Eggers never got to make another big film in the future, but it’s kind of amazing that a big studio actually took a chance on him and gave him a huge budget for this movie. If anything, The Witch and The Lighthouse are already testaments to the kind of movies that Eggers makes, and I’m sure that the internet cinephiles will eat a movie like The Northman up. If a film like The Green Knight can get so much praise on Twitter, I bet there is already a legion of Eggers fans ready to defend The Northman when it hits theaters.

Personally, I think it’s great that a studio would take the chance on Eggers to make a big-budget Viking movie; it’s just disappointing that they’re not sticking to his vision all the way. Either way, the trailer still looks amazing, and even if the movie doesn’t do the numbers that the studio expects, I’m sure it will gain its cult following in the next few years.

From visionary director Robert Eggers comes THE NORTHMAN, an action-filled epic that follows a young Viking prince on his quest to avenge his father’s murder. With an all-star cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe.

Catch The Northman when it hits theaters April 22.