Christopher Nolan Chooses Universal For His Next Film; Reported List Of Demands Revealed

Christopher Nolan Chooses Universal For His Next Film; Reported List Of Demands Revealed

We recently reported that Christopher Nolan was shopping around his next project, a World War II drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, around to various studios, and Universal ultimately came out on top.

By MarkCassidy - Sep 16, 2021 04:09 AM EST
Filed Under: The Dark Knight

The news recently broke that Dunkirk director Christopher Nolan was set to return to World War II for a drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the scientists credited with being the "father of the atomic bomb" for his role in the Manhattan Project, and the project now has a distributor.

Despite his long-standing relationship with Warner Bros., it was reported that Nolan was speaking to several other studios, and he ultimately settled on Universal. Why? Well, it sounds like they were the only ones to agree to his list of demands!

According to THR, the Tenet director wanted total creative control, at least a 100-day theatrical window, around a $100 million budget, equal marketing spend, 20 percent of first-dollar gross, and a blackout period where the studio would not release another movie for three weeks before and after his film.

Sony, Paramount, and Apple were all interested and willing to accommodate at least some of these requests, but Universal committed to the lot - a smart move, considering they now have the opportunity to forge a relationship with one of the most bankable and in-demand directors in Hollywood.

Some have accused Nolan of diva-like behaviour, but THR reports that these were simply "many of the conditions Nolan was accustomed to enjoying at Warners."

Details on the Oppenheimer project are few and far between, but frequent Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy (Dunkirk, The Dark Knight trilogy) is said to be in line for an undisclosed role.

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Origame
Origame - 9/16/2021, 4:22 AM
Still weird not seeing the wb logo on anymore of his movies.

In general I think both wb and Nolan were in the wrong. Wb shouldn't have been as pushy with releasing it to streaming, and Nolan should've been more willing to wait.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 4:25 AM
Nolan:
Fares
Fares - 9/16/2021, 4:28 AM
You don't make it in Hollywood when you win an Oscar, you make it when you're Nolan.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 9/16/2021, 4:33 AM
The three week window seems a bit odd, but the rest seems reasonable enough in my opinion. Hope he brings his brother back on the writing team though.

As for the movie itself, I'm already starting to wonder what the twist is gonna be. Dunkirk had the three storylines, so this historical drama is gonna need a gimmick too
SnideCut
SnideCut - 9/16/2021, 4:34 AM
Haven't enjoyed a Nolan film fully since Inception. Hope this Oppenheimer one is great.
Awest66
Awest66 - 9/16/2021, 5:56 PM
@SnideCut - Dunkirk's a masterpiece, and TDKR and Interstellar are nowhere close to actually being bad movies.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 4:36 AM
WB / HBO-Max SUCK! Smart man I hope all movie directors follow his lead. Scarlett Johansson needs to be the lead for all actors.
Origame
Origame - 9/16/2021, 4:53 AM
@DoubleD - ...Scarlett Johansson is against Disney right now. Wtf are you talking about?
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 5:00 AM
@Origame - All actors and actresses need to sue studios too if was in contract to open directly in theaters before streaming.
Origame
Origame - 9/16/2021, 5:59 AM
@DoubleD - ...they don't if the studios are willing to renegotiate...like wb.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 9/16/2021, 6:00 AM
@DoubleD - her contract stated BW was going to get a "wide release of 1,500 theaters". It wasn't explicit about being exclusive, and most precious contracts ikely weren't either.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 9/16/2021, 6:17 AM
*and most other, previous contracts likely weren't either.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 6:35 AM
@Itwasme - All hearsay. She says different and actually no one on this site including me knows or haves a copy of the contract. Once the case is over in courts then we will only know the truth.

Most contracts do have a so many days in theaters clause in them. More common then not. Especially with the big budget blockbusters.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 9/16/2021, 6:36 AM
@DoubleD

Nolan’s movie was released theatrically. Lmao.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 9/16/2021, 6:49 AM
@DoubleD - it's not hearsay, we have access to the suit.

"According to the suit, Johansson’s contract guaranteed a “wide theatrical release” for “Black Widow,” meaning the film would be shown on at least 1,500 screens. Johansson’s lawyers argue that everyone understood that to mean an “exclusive” theatrical release, under which “Black Widow” would not be available on other platforms for at least 90 to 120 days."

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/black-widow-scarlett-johansson-disney-fallout-1235031315/

DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 6:53 AM
@Itwasme - All hearsay. I will wait for the Court's and Judges final decision. Only person I care about and believe is the Judge at this time.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 6:54 AM
@regularmovieguy - Nolan's Tenant or other movies is NOT what he is talking about. None of those matter.

Nolan is ONLY talking about his World War II drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan wasn't going to have another WB disaster at the Box Office.

LMAO!
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 9/16/2021, 6:56 AM
@DoubleD

“Nolan is ONLY talking about his World War II drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer. “

Nolan didn’t say a word in this whole article. Lol?
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 7:00 AM
@regularmovieguy - HEADLINE! LMAO!

Christopher Nolan Chooses Universal For His Next Film; Reported List Of Demands Revealed.

We recently reported that Christopher Nolan was shopping around his next project, a World War II drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, around to various studios, and Universal ultimately came out on top.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 9/16/2021, 7:08 AM
@DoubleD - what...?

It's not hearsay because we know what's in the suit. The judges interpretation of the language "wide release" doesn't change what the suit is about. I could see a judge going either way on it, and if anything Disney is still likely to settle just to avoid a costly legal battle and have this whole thing go away - right or wrong.

This is what the suit is about though, the interpretation of this phrase. That's not hearsay, that's fact. Her agreement doesn't specify an exclusive release, if it did, it would have been in the lawsuit.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 9/16/2021, 7:12 AM
@DoubleD

Did someone drop you on your head? You're almost impossible to follow because the shit that you type isn't coherent.

Chris Nolan isn't quoted in the article and Scarlett Johansson isn't suing WB? Like your OP makes zero sense.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 7:15 AM
@regularmovieguy - YOU LOST. I WON.

regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 9/16/2021, 7:18 AM
@DoubleD

I feel like our public education lost this one: how old are you btw? 😂
gordonh7
gordonh7 - 9/16/2021, 7:29 AM
@DoubleD - You mean Tenet. The film was called TENET.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 7:51 AM
@gordonh7 - regularmovieguy ... Breaking News WB/DC has lost Christopher Nolan to Universal that's all that matters.

LOL
Battabing
Battabing - 9/16/2021, 8:21 AM
@DoubleD -

You just came out swinging at air, like always.
HowardTheBoy
HowardTheBoy - 9/16/2021, 8:26 AM
@DoubleD - you okay buddy?
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 8:44 AM
@Battabing - Did Christopher Nolan the director of Batman: Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Dunkirk, Memento, and other films just left WB/DC to join Universal Studios?

YES, GRAND SLAM BY ME. LOL
Tpo81
Tpo81 - 9/16/2021, 8:47 AM
@DoubleD - wow ur really excited about what equates to who gives a shit.Lol
dracula
dracula - 9/16/2021, 11:45 AM
@DoubleD - nobody has reason to sue wb, the deals were worked out
gordonh7
gordonh7 - 9/18/2021, 3:03 AM
@DoubleD - Yeah I know I have been Nolan fan for years.
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 9/16/2021, 4:41 AM
Rewatched Memento a few weeks ago, still an interesting and clever movie.

Have loved Inception, The Prestige and his Batman films.
Thought Interstellar was a really good movie, with a Father-Daughter relationship at its Core.

I only got halfway through Tenet but will try again with subtitles. Not that you should need subtitles to understand a movie, if it's in your native tongue.

As alway look forward to Nolan's work.


KWilly
KWilly - 9/16/2021, 4:47 AM
It's honestly amazing how pretentious this guy is. But you know what... If anyone's earned it, it's him.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 9/16/2021, 5:06 AM
@KWilly - Movie Studios and Directors aren't going to make their blockbuster movies for financial loses.

Will go to work and for nothing and at the end of year actually owe money to your employer?
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 9/16/2021, 7:16 AM
@KWilly - Can't entirely call it pretentious considering how the industry can destroy someone's film in any number of ways before, during and after production, and release.
CamtonoOfBeskar
CamtonoOfBeskar - 9/16/2021, 4:48 AM
Didn't like Tenet, didn’t like Dunkirk, why should I be excited for this?

You're gonna have give me more than just the Nolan name this time.
heyy1
heyy1 - 9/16/2021, 6:02 AM
@CamtonoOfBeskar - I liked these movies, so am excited for more of his work.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 9/16/2021, 4:48 AM
Funny thing is, in some territories Universal Pictures and HBO/Warner are the same entity operating HBO Max. lol
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