Christopher Nolan’s next film is still a firmly guarded secret with only a 2017 release date confirmed. There were hints that Nolan might have some sort of connection the proposed Akira trilogy at Warner Bros., but that might not be the case according a new report over at Indiewire. Citing the French newspaper La Voix Du Nord, Indiewire is speculating that Nolan might be ready to tackle a World War II epic with his next film:
According to La Voix Du Nord in France, Nolan is prepping a WWII inspired by Operation Dynamo aka the near-miraculous evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops from the French seaport of Dunkirk which took place from May-June in 1940. The operation was sanctioned when large numbers of Belgian, British, and French troops were cut off and surrounded by the German army, during the Battle of France. 198,000 British and 140,000 French and Belgian troops were saved in the effort.
Patrice Vergriete, the current Mayor of Dunkirk, France, apparently announced the filming of an American blockbuster that would take place June 2016 by a “a world-famous director.” La Voix Du Nord, a regional daily newspaper from the north of France, claims their sources have confirmed that director is Nolan.
Dunkirk is one of the shining moments in the early days of World War II, even though the result revolved around a defeat at the hands of the Nazis. The evacuation and rescue of so many troops saved lives, showed the determination of Allied forces in the war to come, and would be immortalized by Winston Churchill’s iconic “We shall fight on the beaches” speech. Citing Britannica, Indiewire captures what the events meant to those who were there and how it is viewed historically:
“No purely military study of the major aspects of the war could do justice to the skill and the heroism of the evacuation from Dunkirk. Suffice it to say only that, when it began, members of the British imperial general staff doubted that 25% of the B.E.F. could be saved. When it was completed, some 330,000 French and British troops, together with some Belgian and Dutch forces who refused to surrender, had reached haven in England.”
And if you even crack a book on the topic or head over to Wikipedia, you’ll see the scope involved. It was truly an all hands type of moment.
Even more interesting are the hints being dropped by Nolan’s fellow directors. In his discussion with Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino mentions that Christopher Nolan is following right behind him, possibly referencing his next film and the topic of 70mm filmmaking. Tarantino is making quite a stir with his roadshow of The Hateful Eight, something which required theaters to adapt and include new equipment.
With those updates, could we see a wave of films using the same classic techniques that Tarantino utilized with his film? With Nolan’s defense of film alongside the Kill Bill director, it would make sense. And the idea of a 70mm or IMAX war epic directed by the man behind Interstellar and Inception? That’s almost enough to sell a ticket by itself.
(Via Indiewire)
