Will Christopher Nolan’s next movie launch on HBO Max? It’s unlikely
Analysis: is this the end of Nolan’s association with Warner Bros?
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Christopher Nolan’s next movie may not arrive on HBO Max – all because the director’s upcoming project isn’t likely to be distributed by Warner Bros.
According toDeadline, Nolan’s next film is being shipped around to multiple studios as thefalloutfrom Tenet’s day and date release continues.
The motion picture’s screenplay, which will tell the story of atomic bomb creator J. Robert Oppenheimer, is currently being read by numerous unnamed studios. And many are believed to be talking to Nolan and his representatives about purchasing the rights to the movie.
Details on Nolan’s next flick are thin on the ground. However, it’s thought that The Dark Knight trilogy and Interstellar helmer has tapped Cillian Murphy for an undisclosed role.
The Irish actor has appeared in numerous projects that Nolan has created, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s involved in some capacity. There’s no word on whether other notable Nolan collaborators, including Sir Michael Caine, Tom Hardy and Christian Bale, will be part of the cast.
Analysis: is Christopher Nolan done working with Warner Bros?
If Nolan’s next project is produced by another studio, it’ll be a hugely significant move for the writer-director and the industry as a whole.
Save for his first two films – Following and Memento – every Nolan film to date has been distributed by Warner Bros. That’s unsurprising, given that the studio has given him as much creative license as possible; itself a by-product of Nolan’s movies being huge box office hits.
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However, Nolan’s relationship with WarnerMedia soured following the studio’s decision to simultaneously releaseits entire 2021 movie slatein theaters on HBO Max.
A result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. claimed that bringing its new films to its streaming service would provide audiences with a choice over how to watch its movies. However, Nolan, a big proponent of the cinematic experience, expressed dismay at the move in December 2020, calling HBO Max “the worst streaming service” (perTHR).
It’s unclear if Warner Bros. are one of the parties interested in Nolan’s take on Oppenheimer. If they are, it’s likely that they’ll have dropped down the pecking order as a result of their day and date plan. After all, Nolan wouldn’t be talking to other studios if WarnerMedia had repaired its relationship with him.
In July, Netflix’s Head of Content Scott Stuber said he would “everything [I] can” tobring Nolan’s next movieto the streaming giant. But, given Nolan’s savage riposte to Warner Bros' simultaneous HBO Max and theatrical plan, it’s doubtful that he would entertain Netflix’s advances.
So where could Nolan go next? The only other big studio he’s previously worked with is Paramount Pictures, who co-distributed Interstellar.
Paramount, alongside Universal and Disney, though, have given the greenlight for some of their more recent movies to simultaneously launch in theaters and their streaming platforms. Unless Nolan received assurances that this wouldn’t happen, he may not be convinced by this trio.
The only major studio that doesn’t own a streaming service yet isSonyPictures. Currently, Sony has a licensing deal with Netflix and Disney to allow both to stream its movies.
So there would be no day and date release format for Nolan to worry aboutifhe partnered with Sony. Of course, the director’s decision may also be dictated by how much creative freedom he’s afforded, as well as the budget he’d be given to make his Oppenheimer flick. If Nolan is true to his word about preserving the cinematic experience, Sonyshouldbe the frontrunner to be his next movie partner.
As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
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