One of the great modern blockbuster directors is at it again. Christopher Nolan, hot off the success of his Best Picture-nominated Dunkirk, is getting ready to jump back into the director’s chair. Late yesterday, Warner Bros. announced that Nolan’s next feature has been scheduled for a July 17, 2020 release date. For Nolan, the return to the summer blockbuster slot makes sense. All but two of his films, Interstellar and The Prestige, have been released between May and July.
Unsurprisingly, Nolan has kept the story and title of his film extremely hush hush. It has been described as an event film, and considering the release date is about 18 months away, it is likely he already has his cast in place. Over the next few months, expect to hear considerable news coming out about the project. There are some actors with open schedules that might jump to the top of his want list. Beyond an array of British thespians, including Oscar-winning actors Mark Rylance and Michael Caine, Leonardo DiCaprio has an open year after Once Upon a Time in Hollywood releases over the summer.
It’ll be curious to see what kind of film Nolan wants to make as a followup to Dunkirk. That picture was by far his most personal film to date, allowing him to tell the story of one of Brittain’s greatest military moments, even as defeat loomed. His own family was involved in the Dunkirk evacuation, adding a personal flair that Nolan had not added to his work in some time. His blockbuster sensibilities could push him towards telling an original story, with the only sequels in his filmography coming in The Dark Knight trilogy. Regardless of who is cast, or what the story will be, Nolan has certainly earned our trust.
