Christopher Nolan is set to collaborate with Universal Pictures for his next film, with Matt Damon in talks to star. Damon previously appeared in Nolan’s films Interstellar and Oppenheimer. Nolan will write and produce the project alongside Emma Thomas under their production company, Syncopy.
Following the success of Oppenheimer, which won seven Academy Awards and grossed nearly $1 billion globally, it is not surprising that Nolan would return to Universal.
According to sources, the film is scheduled for an IMAX release on July 17, 2026. However, details about the plot remain undisclosed, and Universal has not commented on the project.
Oppenheimer marked a significant shift for Nolan, as it was his first film outside of Warner Bros. in nearly 20 years. During his time with Warner Bros., he directed successful films such as the Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk, and Inception. His departure followed a controversial decision by WarnerMedia to release all of its 2021 films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Although Nolan did not have a film released during that period, he criticized the strategy, stating that many filmmakers felt misled about their working environment.
Nolan later took Oppenheimer to Universal, where it faced off against another Warner Bros. release, Barbie. In a cover story for Variety, Nolan mentioned that any past issues with Warner Bros. are now “water under the bridge.”
Deadline was the first to report on Nolan’s upcoming film project, which is expected to be part of a star-studded summer lineup for Universal in 2026. This lineup will also include new films from acclaimed filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Jordan Peele.
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