By Filmmaker Christopher Nolan is in a fairly unique position in that aside from his early work like “Following” and “Memento,” he’s always been known for being a director of big studio films.
On the other hand, he’s very much an auteur and the kind of director you don’t hire to anonymously churn out a sequel to a beloved franchise. The one time he did dabble in franchises, namely his Dark Knight trilogy, they were all done very much in his own voice.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, the “Oppenheimer” and “The Prestige” director was asked to weigh in on the debate of how Hollywood has become over-reliant on superhero films and blockbusters based on existing IP.
Nolan stands up for the big films, calling them a crucial part of the film industry which needs a variety of projects to keep the ecosystem healthy:
“There’s always a balance in Hollywood between established titles that can assure a return audience and give people more of what they want. That’s always been a big part of the economics of Hollywood, and it pays for a lot of other types of films to be made and distributed.
But there also always has to be respect for the audience’s desire for something new. That’s one of the big thrills of going to the movies is, frankly, seeing a trailer for a movie you’ve never heard of or a type of movie you haven’t seen or haven’t seen in a long time. Something new, something fresh. A healthy ecosystem in Hollywood is about a balance between the two things and always has been.”
The comments follow on from fellow auteur Martin Scorsese saying there is a ‘danger’ with what these blockbusters are “doing to our culture” and how a whole generation thinks movies are only safe blockbuster thrill rides and can’t be transgressive or experimental.
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