Christopher Nolan’s criticism of Warner Bros.' decision to release all 2021 movies on HBO Max has brought into question his future with the studio, which he’s called home for nearly 20 years. Nolan has long been a proponent of the theatrical experience, and in Warner Bros. he found a partner that shared his love for that experience and worked hard to cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship. However, the studio's recent announcement combined with a shakeup of top executives makes for an uncertain landscape of future theatrical releases. It’s unclear what Nolan’s next project will be or who will distribute it, but should he choose to end his long-standing relationship with Warner Bros., a couple big names stand out as potential partners.
Over the past two decades, Nolan has made a name for himself as one of the industry’s most talented, and bankable, filmmakers. Quickly moving from low-budget indie films like Memento to action-packed blockbusters like The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan has retained a nuanced approach to filmmaking that is both deeply moving and wildly entertaining. At the same time, Nolan has made monumental advancements in the theatrical experience, becoming the first filmmaker to shoot a feature film with IMAX cameras (using the large format for select scenes in The Dark Knight).
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Alongside Nolan nearly every step of the way has been Warner Bros. Pictures. Not only has the studio distributed Nolan’s most successful films, but they’ve also fostered a relationship that allows for his pursuit of bigger and better filmmaking - and Nolan has more than delivered. His films have dazzled audiences the world over and raked in big box-office numbers for the studio. While speaking to ET, Nolan said Warner Bros.’ 2021 slate of movies “is meant to be out there for the widest possible audiences.” The groundbreaking move during a time of exhibition instability has put theatrical releases in jeopardy for more than just their 2021 slate of films, leading many to question what the future holds for Nolan, who fought hard for Tenet to receive a theatrical release.
Christopher Nolan is currently serving as an executive producer for Zack Snyder's Justice League on HBO Max (though it's nothing more than a required credit), but there doesn’t appear to be any future projects in the works at this time. Warner Bros. insists their move toward streaming is only for their 2021 titles, and Nolan remains optimistic about the future of the theater-going experience. However, a shakeup of top studio executives may prove a sign of future changes to come.
Carolyn Blackwood, who is said to be the brains behind the recent announcement, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Warner Bros. Pictures Group in 2019 while the CEOs of WarnerMedia and parent company AT&T were named just this year. If the recent move proves to be more than a temporary reaction to the pandemic, Nolan may wish to look elsewhere for his future filmmaking collaborations. 20th Century and Sony Pictures stand out as the most likely homes for the acclaimed filmmaker and his production company, Syncopy, which currently has on office on the Warner Bros. lot.
Both 20th Century and Sony Pictures have a history of working with staunch defenders of the theatrical experience. The former previously handled the international release for Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies while the latter has become the new home for Quentin Tarantino. Nolan already has ties with 20th Century's parent company Disney, whose formerly named Buena Vista Pictures distribution arm shared in the release of Nolan’s 2006 thriller The Prestige.
The entire ripple effect of Warner Bros.’ decision has yet to be observed. However, their longstanding relationship with Nolan, a strong proponent of the theatrical experience, already appears to be in jeopardy. However uncertain the distribution of Nolan’s future films may be, the quality of the films need not be questioned. If Christopher Nolan has proved anything over the years, it’s that we can always count on him to deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking product on-screen.
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