The latest update from Christopher Nolan’s next film after Oppenheimer sounds very promising. Spider-Man fame Tom Holland is reportedly in talks to star alongside Matt Damon in the new film. While the theme and plot of the new film are kept tightly under wraps, Nolan earlier this year expressed his interest in making a horror film.
Fans have speculated that the Interstellar director has finally come up with a “really exceptional idea” for his horror film. While Nolan is yet to make a full-fledged horror film, he has included horror elements in his films including Christian Bale’s Batman Begins and his war film Dunkirk.
Batman Begins And Dunkirk Scenes Have Proven Christopher Nolan’s Skills In Depicting Horror
Christopher Nolan might just delve into the horror genre with his next film. Nolan has taken his new script to Universal, who helped him win his first Oscar with Oppenheimer. While nothing about the script is made public, Nolan hinted about his passion to make a horror film earlier this year.
Appearing at an event at London’s British Film Institute, Nolan answered an audience member’s question about whether he would consider making a horror film. He shared that he found horror films interesting and would love to make one at some point. He further shared that a really good horror film needed an exceptional idea. He shared (via Variety):
I think horror films are very interesting because they depend on very cinematic devices, it really is about a visceral response to things and so, at some point, I’d love to make a horror film. But I think a really good horror film requires a really exceptional idea. And those are few and far between. So I haven’t found a story that lends itself to that.
Nolan has already proved that he could make a great horror movie 19 years ago in Batman Begins. In the film, Cillian Murphy‘s Scarecrow introduces a fear-inducing hallucinogen that drives anyone inhaling it crazy. The vivid hallucinations of the characters are pure horror material. Batman had hallucinations of bats coming out of Scarecrow’s face.
Scarecrow gets a taste of his own medicine when he’s sprayed with the fear gas. He sees Batman in a demonic form and Murphy’s petrified reaction to the monstrous vision is something fans would usually see in horror films.
Similarly in Dunkirk, Nolan created one of the best psychologically horrifying scenes. In one of the scenes in the film, a Navy destroyer carrying escaping soldiers is hit by a torpedo that sends the ship sinking. The water rushes in and soldiers are shown to be attempting their escape in darkness. Nolan explained the scene to The New York Times:
It’s about absolute fear and the claustrophobia of being trapped with hundreds of other people in a dark space that’s rapidly filling up with water.
Nolan also added elements of horror in Oppenheimer. Murphy’s Robert Oppenheimer is haunted by visions of the aftermath of the bombing. Nolan didn’t get too graphic with them, but he was successful in conveying the fear through Murphy’s acting.
What Do We Know About Christopher Nolan’s New Film?
According to Deadline, Christopher Nolan is set to return to Universal Pictures for his next film, with Matt Damon reportedly in talks to star. Variety reported that Tom Holland is also currently in talks to appear in the film. Nolan is eyeing an IMAX release for the film in the summer of 2026. Universal has apparently set aside the date of July 17, 2026, which bears similarity with the release dates of other Nolan films.
The details of the plot are under wraps and Nolan will probably look to win his next Oscar with the film. Universal has a lot of hope for the director after the box office numbers and the accolades that he brought them. The production of the film is expected to begin in early 2025.
Batman Begins is now available for streaming on Max, while Dunkirk is available for rent on AppleTV.
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