We all know Christopher Nolan is obsessed with time, and he has wasted none in rushing to end last week’s discourse about where his next blockbuster would land, opting to swap his long-standing relationship with Warner Bros by taking his WWII movie to Universal.
After speculation that the Tenet filmmaker was touting his next film around town, with Netflix, Paramount and Sony keen to secure his services, Deadline have confirmed that his biopic about World War II scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is considered one of the fathers of the atom bomb, will be housed at Universal.
Nolan’s working relationship with Warner Bros. came to a head when he was critical of the studios decision to release its 2021 theatrical slate day-and-date on HBO Max, slamming them for failing to inform its filmmakers and stars of their decision. This led to rumours that Nolan’s near-20 year association with WB – from 2002’s Insomnia through to 2020’s Tenet – was over, which has now been confirmed.
According to THR, Universal was prepared to meet Nolan’s demands, which included complete creative control, a budget in the region of $100 million along with an equal marketing spend, a theatrical window of at least 100-days, an agreement from the studio not to release another movie for a period of three weeks either side of his, and a 20 percent cut of first-dollar gross.
What do you think of Nolan’s decision to swap Warner Bros. for Universal? Let us know by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Originally published September 15, 2021. Updated September 16, 2021.
