Christopher Nolan tries out a new genre with his next movie

Christopher Nolan, who has garnered fans with his sci-fi, mystery and superhero projects, is venturing into a new genre: His next film will be a war drama set in France during World War II, Variety reports. Titled “Dunkirk,” the film will be directed by Nolan from his own original screenplay.

The project takes its name from the town in northern France and will tell the story of the British evacuation of Dunkirk through the English Channel in May 1940, codenamed Operation Dynamo.

Though Nolan has shown his action movie chops plenty, this is his first foray into war drama and his second period piece, following 2006″s “The Prestige.”

Variety reports that Nolan is looking to reunite with Tom Hardy on the project (he worked with the English actor on “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”) Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance are also in talks to join the film.

“Dunkirk” is set for a July 21, 2017 release and will be shot in both IMAX 65mm and 65mm large format film.

Before then, audiences will see Nolan-produced movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” in theaters this March.

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