The next Christopher Nolan movie has reportedly found its star, and he both completes a 10-year setup and perfectly follows the director’s last film, Oppenheimer. It’s already hard to rank all of Christopher Nolan’s movies, but the director seems to be looking to make it even more difficult with his next film. With such classics as The Dark Knight, Inception, and Memento, climbing the ranks of Nolan’s best films won’t be easy. The director’s next movie has a unique advantage though: a casting choice that follows in Oppenheimer‘s footsteps and fulfills a ten-year-old setup.
After 12 feature films, Christopher Nolan has worked with a long list of incredibly famous actors. Nolan’s various Oscar wins and his respected reputation also mean that he could essentially convince anyone to star in his films with little convincing. With so much prestige and casting power, however, his choices for leading actors are even more important. The right lead can make or break a film, and Nolan understands this as well as any other director, and possibly even more. Which is why his next leading actor, Matt Damon, is such a great choice for his upcoming film.
After Interstellar & Oppenheimer, Matt Damon Is Finally The Main Star In A Christopher Nolan Movie
Damon Has Only Had Supporting Roles In Nolan’s Films
Matt Damon might be cast as the lead in Christopher Nolan’s next movie, which is set to be released on July 17, 2026. Nolan’s next movie will mark the first time Damon has been the main star in one of the director’s films, though he has appeared in both Oppenheimer and Interstellar. Damon played Leslie Groves, the military leader of the Manhattan Project, in Oppenheimer, and Mann, the researcher who was rescued by and attacked the Endurance team in Interstellar. While there are still very few details available about Nolan’s next film, the fact that Damon will play the lead role is quite exciting.
Why The Matt Damon & Christopher Nolan Partnership Is So Exciting
Nolan & Damon Clearly Work Well Together
Matt Damon being cast as the lead role in Christopher Nolan’s next movie is quite exciting, mainly because they work incredibly well together, which is evidenced by their previous collaborations. Though he had a small role in Interstellar, Damon is still one of the most memorable parts of the film. Damon also got to show that with a meatier and more important role, like Groves in Oppenheimer, he can still give an exceptionally compelling and memorable performance. Putting Damon and Nolan together has been a recipe for success in the past, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t work again for their next film.
Essentially, Damon and Nolan’s collaboration could ensure their next film is a success.
Having that established chemistry between a lead actor and the director isn’t always necessary, but it could help the film get off to a very quick start. Damon and Nolan already know what working with one another is like, and they won’t have to waste any time trying to find the best way to communicate ideas or how best to approach a scene. They’ve likely also built up a level of trust in their previous movies, which could mean that they’ll be willing to take bigger risks in the next film. Essentially, Damon and Nolan’s collaboration could ensure their next film is a success.
Christopher Nolan Casting Matt Damon For His New Movie Mirrors Cillian Murphy In Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy Had Small Parts In The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, & Dunkirk Before Oppenheimer
Matt Damon isn’t the first actor to go from supporting roles in Christopher Nolan’s movies to securing a lead spot: Cillian Murphy did the same. Before he played J. Robert Oppenheimer, Murphy had worked extensively with Nolan on his other films. Murphy appeared as Jonathan Crane, also known as Scarecrow, in all three installments of The Dark Knight trilogy, starting in 2005. He also played Robert Fischer, the target of Cobb’s mission, in Inception, and an unnamed soldier in Dunkirk. After 18 years of working with Nolan, Murphy finally secured a leading role in Oppenheimer.
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How Much Cillian Murphy & The Oppenheimer Cast Was Paid
The Cillian Murphy-led cast of Oppenheimer was full of A-list actors, but some didn’t get paid as much as expected for the Christopher Nolan film.
Now, Damon is set to follow in Cillian Murphy’s footsteps in terms of his professional relationship with Christopher Nolan, but he could also follow Murphy’s success. Cillian Murphy won his first Academy Award for Best Actor because of Oppenheimer, and Damon could do the same with a lead role in a Nolan film. It would also fulfill some missed chances in Damon’s past: he was nominated for Best Actor twice – for Good Will Hunting and The Martian – but never won. Christopher Nolan‘s next movie could be exactly what Matt Damon needs to win his first acting Oscar.
