Oppenheimer is not only Christopher Nolan's highly successful movie but also one that has propelled his career to new heights. Now, the question arises, what is Nolan's next project?
Throughout his illustrious 25-year career, Nolan, with only 12 films under his belt, has become a prominent figure in the film industry. His directorial genius is evident in movies like Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, and, of course, Oppenheimer.
His latest film stars Cillian Murphy as the main character, known as the "father of the atomic bomb," in an epic war-themed masterpiece. In our review, we described it as more of a horror movie than a traditional biopic, praising it as an exceptional achievement that rivals Christopher Nolan's best work. This film holds significant importance and displays true humanity. As one of the year's most highly anticipated movies, audiences eagerly seek out the largest screens, preferably IMAX 70mm, to experience its grandeur. However, we can't help but wonder what project he has in store for us next.
What’s Christopher Nolan’s next movie?
To put it simply, we are unaware. Nolan has not provided any hints regarding the specifics of his upcoming film: its form, subject matter, or main characters. All these aspects remain shrouded in mystery.
Nolan revealed to The New York Times that he is frequently questioned about his plans for future projects during interviews and before the release of his films. His response remains consistent - he focuses on one undertaking at a time and devotes his full attention to it. According to Nolan, the film is still a work in progress until it is experienced by the audience.
However, we do know there’ll be another film, because the director has no intention of retiring anytime soon.
Christopher Nolan’s next movie predictions
James Bond
: Using Nolan's past work as a guide, we can speculate about his future endeavors, focusing on three unrealized projects and a potentially exciting opportunity.Universal Pictures
Starting with the latter point, there is talk of a James Bond film helmed by Christopher Nolan. Bond 26 is set to be a complete revamp of both the character and the franchise, as stated by producer Barbara Broccoli. Nolan has always shown keen interest in directing his own take on the iconic spy, not only if the opportunity presented itself, but also if the series required his creative touch.
"I have a profound admiration for the character and am continuously intrigued by the creative direction taken with it. Perhaps, in the future, there could be an opportunity for me to contribute. Of course, it would require a genuine necessity, you know what I mean. There must be a demand for reinvention, a demand that only you can fulfill," he revealed during an interview with BBC Radio 4 in 2018.
Furthermore, there have been rumors suggesting that Nolan has been in discussions to oversee two Bond films once the next chapter of the franchise commences.
You can read more about our wish for a Nolan Bond movie here.
Howard Hughes biopic
After the 2002 release of Insomnia, Nolan started working on a biographical film about Howard Hughes, the renowned tycoon. However, his project had to be shelved as Leonardo DiCaprio had already played the role of Hughes in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator.
The content fragment details how Christopher Nolan, in an interview with The Daily Beast, expressed his reaction to Scorsese's movie entering production. Nolan discussed his feelings of frustration after learning about the production of the other film, acknowledging that it was the best script he had ever written and that he had enjoyed the writing process. While he did not explicitly state whether he would revisit the project in the future, he emphasized that his focus at the moment was on his current film, "Interstellar."
The Keys to the Street
20th Century Studios
The director was briefly slated to direct a film adaptation of Ruth Rendell's "The Keys to the Street," which revolves around a woman's inquiry into a series of homeless individuals being impaled and murdered in London's Regent's Park. The project was under the care of Fox Searchlight and was set to feature Gemma Arterton as the lead character, Mary Jago. However, Nolan eventually chose to step away from the film, though he expressed his admiration for the screenplay.
The Prisoner
I am uncertain if this is the next step I wish to pursue. I believe that another director may better suit this project. The script is quite captivating, but it shares many similarities with the three films I have previously directed, making it potentially unsuitable for me to tackle as my next endeavor.
ITV
Here's an intriguing watch. If you're unfamiliar, The Prisoner was initially aired in 1967 as a television series. It revolves around a British intelligence agent who gets mysteriously kidnapped and transported to a peculiar seaside village. Interestingly, anyone attempting to flee is promptly apprehended or, worse, eliminated.
In 2009, a miniseries remake of The Prisoner, starring Jim Caviezel, was created, but it did not receive positive reviews from critics. Nolan, who was influenced by the enigmatic and intricate storyline of The Prisoner, had considered adapting it into a feature film. Speaking to IGN in 2009, he expressed his longstanding interest in The Prisoner and mentioned that he had developed a unique approach to bring the story to the big screen.
The relevance of it today remains uncertain. However, it should be noted that the talented duo of David and Janet Peoples, known for their work on Blade Runner and Twelve Monkeys, are currently working on the script. It is not my place to speak on their behalf, but I am eagerly anticipating the outcome of their collaboration. Unfortunately, in 2009, producer Barry Mendel confirmed that Nolan had withdrawn from the project, and apart from a passing mention of Ridley Scott possibly taking over, there have been few updates since then.
In a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Nolan discussed the possibility of returning to The Prisoner. Although he acknowledged that he hadn't found a solution yet, he stated that he didn't want to reveal his next project because he hasn't made a decision. Oppenheimer is currently showing in theaters. For more information about the film, take a look at our other coverage below.
Oppenheimer review revealed; Epic runtime, R-rating explained; Optimal way to watch Oppenheimer; Christopher Nolan's perspective on sex scenes; Cast and character details; Filming locations disclosed; Unveiling the true story; Is Oppenheimer available for streaming?; Rotten Tomato ranking of Nolan's works; Connection to a book?; Addressing the age-gap controversy; Robert Pattinson's impact; The circumstances of Oppenheimer's death; Christopher Nolan's explanation of the peculiar script; Repercussions of Japan banning Oppenheimer; Summary of reviews; Does Oppenheimer feature a post-credits scene?; Character fatalities; Box office performance; Decoding the ending; Exploring Lewis Strauss' hostility towards Oppenheimer.