Why Christopher Nolan refuses to make mainstream films

“Having something new to bring ultimately reduces the risk…” analyzes the filmmaker.

At a time when Hollywood is multiplying sequels, remakes and calibrated franchises, Christopher Nolan continues to defend another vision of the blockbuster. The director of Oppenheimer and of Dark Knight believes that the real danger for a film is not taking risks… but on the contrary playing it safe. Questioned by the New York Timesthe filmmaker explains:

“When you are really interested in cinema and its history, you realize that you have to take risks to succeed. The biggest risk of all is playing it safe. This is precisely what repeatedly does not work in mainstream films. The public is looking for something new.“

Christopher Nolan also remembers that his thriller Memento (2000), told backwards, already worried those around him. Even his wife and producer, Emma Thomas, found the film’s structure particularly risky:

“She liked the script, but she thought it took a lot of risks…“

The filmmaker was, however, convinced that this originality was precisely his strength:

“But having something new to contribute ultimately reduces the risk, because it allows you to stand out.”

The British director recognizes, however, that Memento was difficult to sell to distributors:

“We tried to sell it to people who didn’t understand it, so Emma was totally right in the end… But the film ended up finding its audience, who appreciated this risk-taking.”

For Christopher Nolan, the problem often comes from intermediaries – studios, financiers, producers – more than from the spectators themselves:

“If you can reach the audience, you will always be rewarded for having confidence in them.”

A philosophy that he says he has applied again to his next film, The Odysseywhich, according to him, will take there too “a lot of risk“…

Cinema release on July 15 in France.