Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing James Bond

after Tenet, but being rejected worked out for the best. Nolan is one of the most celebrated directors living today, with a limited number of releases that managed to amᴀss spectacular numbers of awards and nominations. Nolan’s ability to tell a story, and deliver a clear vision is evident in all of his work, and the director set his sights on trying to direct a James Bond movie in order to leave a mark on the enduring franchise. However, Nolan’s efforts were rebuffed, preventing him from helming the suave spy on the big screen.

According to Variety, Nolan reached out about directing a Bond film after he finished working on Tenet, but Barbara Broccoli, longtime producer of the franchise, shut down Nolan’s advances due to his need to have control of the final cut. Nolan has clearly proven his ability to deliver incredible results, but Broccoli opted to maintain control rather than have the high-profile director step up. However, despite the setback, Nolan was quick to move on to a new project, and thank goodness for audiences, because Oppenheimer was a phenomenal success.

Nolan Doing Bond After Tenet Means Oppeinheimer Might Have Never Happened

Oppenheimer Was A Masterpiece That Won 7 Oscars

When it comes to James Bond, the character and the franchise overall is far from casual. From the first movie’s release down to today, the movies have grown to become immensely popular. But with that popularity, there came strict rules and regulations about how to portray the character who could play 007, and the movies that were made. All of this oversight has resulted in a compelling and enduring series of films, but it also requires the right kind of directors and creative teams to approach the task. While Nolan is certainly up to the task, the lack of freedom would not have been helpful or beneficial for the renowned director.

And rather than getting weighed down at the missed opportunity, Nolan swiftly began work on a dramatic biopic, Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy. The film depicts the life and struggles of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist whose work for the US government in World War II directly contributed to the development of nuclear weapons, which were subsequently used to escalate and then end the war. This film was nothing short of a masterpiece, but if Nolan was given the chance to work on the next James Bond movie, there is a sizable chance that Oppenheimer would have never been made. Or at the very least, it would have taken many more years to make and looked very different.

What Christopher Nolan’s Bond Movie Would Have Looked Like

Nolan Has A Distinct Directorial Tone Of Voice

Still, if Nolan had gotten his hands on the man with a license to kill, he could have made something truly spectacular. In the past, when Nolan has been given the chance to turn his attention to a larger franchise, such as was the case when he worked on The Dark Knight trilogy, he revealed his ability to deeply understand established characters, and bring out a new side to them that has yet to be thoroughly explored. In many of Nolan’s films, there are aspects of technology, psychology, and exploration, so it makes sense that these themes would appear in his take on Bond.

It’s likely that a James Bond movie by Nolan would have been compelling, technically brilliant, well-defined, and engaging. It could have leaned into a more sci-fi tone, or perhaps dialed in to a lesser seen side of the International Super Spy. However, it’s almost certain that the movie would have relied largely on practical effects, as is standard for Nolan, and included some incredibly innovative and visually stunning sH๏τs throughout. It may have also played with time in a non-conventional way, exploring a narrative through the present, flashbacks, and other methods.

If You Want A Christopher Nolan Bond Movie, Just Watch These Two Films

Nolan Has Drawn Inspiration From Bond Before

However, despite not having directed a James Bond film, Nolan has clearly been inspired by entries that came before. Nolan has a tendency to create action-packed movies with secret organizations, embarking on secretive missions, and attempting to save the world, or catch a target. These are elements that are common throughout all of his works, but there are two films in particular that stand out as feeling like they could have been lifted straight out of the world of James Bond. Inception, and Tenet.

Inception follows a man named Cobb, who is hired to implant an idea into the mind of a high-profile client. As a person who is experienced at navigating other people’s dreams, Cobb has done a lot of work extracting ideas. However, when the task is reversed, things get a lot more complex. Cobb and his team are suave, intelligent, and highly skilled agents who embark on a heist in an awe-inspiring adventure. Then, in Tenet, Nolan designed a story around a secret organization who uncover a unique phenomenon that allows them to experience time in reverse. The film is mind-bending and twisty, but with spies and villains facing off, it’s definitely Bond-esque.

After Watching Oppenheimer, I Don’t Think Nolan Ever Needs To Do Another Franchise

Christopher Nolan’s Reputation As A Filmmaker Speaks For Itself

Nolan may have ambitions to work on franchises, and even with the changeover of control regarding Bond, he could find himself in the running once again to direct a future entry, but if Nolan’s body of work proves anything, it’s that he does not need franchises. Hollywood and all the major studios have spent nearly two decades building franchises to the point that almost every big release in theaters is just another entry in a wider universe, but Nolan’s name holds enough weight, and inspires enough trust, that audiences are willing to take a chance and go see whatever he puts out.

Despite releasing on the same day as a huge blockbuster film, Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig and starring the magnificent Margot Robbie, Nolan’s Oppenheimer held its ground, and managed to earn a spectacular $975 million (via The Numbers), just shy of the billion-dollar benchmark. It’s clear that Nolan can excel within a franchise, or without. As a result, it really doesn’t matter if Christopher Nolan gets a chance at directing another franchise blockbuster that builds on an IP like James Bond, or he chooses to forge a new path with projects like Oppenheimer. His work speaks for itself, and it earns the praise it so readily receives.