Update, Friday, December 9 at 11:58 p.m.: So are we actually getting a collaboration soon or what? On Thursday, W magazine asked Guillermo del Toro if he had seen Taylor Swift’s compliment-filled quote about wanting to trade places with him for a day. Also, would he consider himself to be a Swiftie? “Yes, yes,†he replied. “She’s a very accomplished director, she’s incredibly articulate and deep about what she’s trying to do—and what she will do.†Hmm, sounds like he knew before the rest of us that Swift is writing and directing her own feature-length movie for Searchlight Pictures. According to del Toro, he and Swift have actually met up to talk about visual arts before. He said he gave her several books, including The Science of Fairy Tales, which he used to create his 2008 movie Pan’s Labryinth. “I have the greatest admiration for her; we had one of the most stimulating and gratifying conversations,†he said. “We have many, many common interests. And her interest in fable and myth and the origins of fairy tale is quite deep.†We’re sure all the Speak Now fans out there are nodding vigorously.
Original story published December 7, 2022 follows.
Former Cats cat Taylor Swift has something to say. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Swift chose Pinocchio director Guillermo del Toro as the person in Hollywood who she would want to trade places with for a day. “Imagine having that imagination, that visual vocabulary and that astonishing body of work. To have such a diverse storytelling range but to somehow put your distinctive artistic fingerprint on every film,†she said. “And yet, it feels like he’s still so curious and enthusiastic about his work.†Swifties would probably argue that she already knows what that’s like because of her music career, but they might be a little preoccupied with Ticketmaster at the moment. The Midnights singer made her directorial debut earlier this year with her “All Too Well†short film, which is now up for an Academy Award Although she’s worked with several Oscar-winning directors, including David O. Russell and Tom Hooper, del Toro was the filmmaker that she chose for her Freaky Friday scenario. “I can only imagine that a day in his mind would be fascinating,†she mused, which is pretty darn high praise from someone who has sung about having the mind of a “Mastermind.â€