Steven Soderbergh Draws Inspiration from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour for New Project

**Steven Soderbergh Draws Inspiration from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour for New Project**

American director Steven Soderbergh, renowned for films such as *Ocean’s Eleven* and *Traffic*, has shared his admiration for Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, revealing that it is directly inspiring his next creative endeavor. Speaking with *Variety* at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Soderbergh expressed fascination with Swift’s unparalleled control over her tour and the level of dedication she brings to her performances. In fact, he even mentioned that he would attend if he could, but noted, “There aren’t any tickets!”

**Taylor Swift’s Cultural Impact**

Soderbergh is particularly struck by the sheer magnitude of Swift’s success and her ability to orchestrate an experience unlike any other artist. “People laugh that there is a college class being taught about her, and I go, ‘There should be,’” Soderbergh remarked. “What she is doing, the way she is doing it… Nobody has ever done this before. The amount of control she has taken over. She is relentless.” From the meticulousness of her live performances to her creative vision, Swift has crafted an experience that resonates on a cultural level.

One of the aspects of the Eras Tour that Soderbergh found especially compelling was the way Swift prepares for the demanding physicality of her shows. He was particularly impressed by stories of her rehearsing on a treadmill to ensure she could maintain the energy throughout the long performances. This level of dedication is something Soderbergh believes is worth celebrating. He also quoted screenwriter David Koepp, who took his daughter to one of Swift’s concerts, saying, “You cannot believe what it’s like to be there.” For Soderbergh, this was a testament to the scale and intensity of the experience Swift is offering her fans.

**A New Project: “I Would Go if I Could. There Aren’t Any Tickets!”**

Drawing from his admiration for the Eras Tour, Soderbergh revealed that the concert’s success is influencing his next creative project. The director shared that he’s been thinking about large-scale, cooperative endeavors that work, such as airports or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, and how they can offer lessons for broader societal applications. He sees the Eras Tour as an example of such a successful collective effort.

The director asks a poignant question: “Why can’t we figure out Syria or any other conflict?” He envisions a project that will use humor and music as tools to explore these themes. “Humor is a great delivery system for an idea and nothing lights up the brain like music,” he said. “This project better be funny and there should be some musical component as a way to open people up. I want you to come out on the other side after you see it, and feel different.”

While details of this new project remain under wraps, it’s clear that Soderbergh plans to merge entertainment and societal analysis in a way that challenges audiences to reconsider the potential for large-scale cooperation in solving complex issues.

**Echoing Swift’s Legacy: “Black Bag”**

In the meantime, Soderbergh is also preparing for the release of his upcoming film, *Black Bag*, which he describes as a love story. The title is a playful nod to Swift’s 2008 hit “Love Story,” signaling that the director may be drawing on her musical legacy, even if the film itself is not directly inspired by Swift’s work.

As Soderbergh continues to innovate within the film industry, it’s clear that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is more than just a concert for the director—it’s a source of inspiration that could shape how he tackles larger societal questions through cinema.

For now, fans can look forward to *Black Bag* and await further details about Soderbergh’s intriguing new project, which promises to blend humor, music, and societal reflection in ways only he can achieve.