What we know about Christopher Nolan's new film

The Oscar-winning filmmaker has found his next project

Roxy Simons
·Entertainment Editor
·4-min read
Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of OPPENHEIMER. (Universal)
Christopher Nolan, winner of the Best Directing award and the Best Picture award for Oppenheimer, has found his next project. (FilmMagic). (Universal)

Christopher Nolan has lined up his next film after his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.

The director is reuniting with Universal Pictures after their successful collaboration on the war epic, bringing a new top secret project to the screen. While a lot is being kept under wraps, new details have emerged about the production.

Here is everything you need to know about Christopher Nolan’s new film.

OPPENHEIMER, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Universal)
Christopher Nolan's new film is being kept top secret but is said not to be a contemporary subject. (Universal)

While plot details have not emerged, it has been reported that the production will not be sent in the present day. Whether that means it is a period drama like Dunkirk or has a futuristic narrative like Interstellar or Tenet is yet to be revealed.

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It is unclear if any information will be revealed about the film soon, given it is said to be being kept tightly under wraps. But in the lead up to the film’s release we will likely know more.

There are already rumours over what the film could be about, with Gizmodo claiming that the movie is a vampire period drama believed to be set in the 1920s — sounds similar to the first season of Interview with the Vampire, that's for sure. It has also been suggested that the film is a remake of The Prisoner.

Elsewhere, World of Reel claimed that the film is a futuristic action film set in New York City, with Nolan said to be working with the NYPD Aviation Unit. According to the publication it is believed that the film is inspired by 1983's Blue Thunder, rather than be a straight remake.

US actor Matt Damon attends the premiere of Apple Original Films'
Matt Damon has joined the project and is said to have a lead role. (Getty Images)

Nolan is set to reunite with Matt Damon on the new film for a lead role, the actor previously said that he told his wife his one exception to their agreement about him working less was if Nolan called him. It happened with Oppenheimer, and it seems this has happened again.

Tom Holland was recently announced to be joining the cast. Damon worked with Nolan previously on Oppenheimer and 2014 film Interstellar, but this will mark Holland’s first production with the director.

The film is expected to be released in IMAX on 17, July 2026. Given Nolan’s deal with Universal Pictures in the wake of his falling out with Warner Bros. we know that the director’s new film will be released exclusively in cinemas.

As part of his new deal, Nolan's movie will be released with no new Universal releases in the three weeks either side of the director's film.

L to R: Emily Blunt (as Kitty Oppenheimer) with writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer) on the set of OPPENHEIMER. (Universal)
Christopher Nolan was rumoured to be working on the next James Bond film, but it seems that it won't be likely to happen now. (Universal)

Nolan is the director that fans of James Bond have most been hoping will take on the challenge of directing a 007 movie, and he has previously expressed an interest in doing so.

In 2012, Nolan said: "It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things."

Then, talking in 2017, he cited Bond as one of his moviemaking white whales: "I’ve spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I’m always excited to see what they do with it. Maybe one day that would work out. You’d have to be needed, if you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they’re getting along very well.”

James Bond (DANIEL CRAIG) in the 007 action adventure CASINO ROYALE, from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Columbia Pictures through Sony Pictures Releasing.
Daniel Craig, pictured in Casino Royale, is the most recent James Bond. (Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

In November 2023 the director said that he was not going to be working with the franchise, telling AP: “No, sadly no — no truth to those rumours.” He then doubled down on this denial in 2024 at the Golden Globes

News of a new James Bond film is expected to be imminent, with actors constantly being rumoured to be in line to portray the spy, so it seems that Nolan's new movie could clash with a potential 007 production. This means that Nolan is likely not to be directing the next movie for the espionage franchise.

No, there is currently no trailer for the movie because filming hasn't yet started. Once production has finished there will be a number of teasers and trailers unveiled.

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