Christopher Nolan is evidently a sought-after filmmaker. For almost two decades though, the auteur worked with Warner Bros. to churn out some of Hollywood’s most memorable, original blockbusters. Things soured between the two though when Warner Bros. decided to debut its entire 2021 slate of movies on HBO Max on the same day as their theatrical releases. The move received widespread backlash from filmmakers, many of whom found out about it the same day as the announcement. For Nolan, it became the last straw and the director severed ties with the studio and switched over to Universal Pictures.
Well, looks like Warner Bros. is in no mood to let Nolan go. In a long-ranging interview with Variety, Warner Bros. Film Group CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abby talked about shifting strategy and returning the studio back to its former glory days of betting on original blockbusters and a director’s vision. Among the many changes they hoped to bring aboard was the revelation that the duo are hoping to make amends with Nolan and have him back on their side. Said De Luca, “We’re hoping to get Nolan back,” as he remained hopeful of such a possibility. “I think there’s a world,” reminisced Luca, optimistic that the time will come.
The duo are, however, well aware of the challenge that lies ahead of them. Universal Pictures chief Donna Langley is no slouch, having purportedly gone to extreme lengths to snatch Nolan in a bidding war that emerged when Nolan’s next film (now Oppenheimer) was up for grabs. Both De Luca and Abby realize it’s going to be an uphill battle, and they’ve begun laying the foundations already. As a gesture, they sent Nolan a 7-figure royalty bonus for his work on Tenet, something they discussed and believed he was rightfully owed. Nolan, on his part, seems to be warming up, having returned to the Warner Bros. lot and utilizing their post-production facilities to work on Oppenheimer.
It remains to be seen whether Nolan is locked in with Universal Pictures for a contract spanning multiple films, or is free to take it one movie at a time. Both Nolan’s and Langley’s reputations precede them, so it remains to be seen what negotiations yield once his current release is done. For now, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. will go head-to-head as both their respective movies Oppenheimer and Barbie release in theaters on July 21, 2023.
