The One Superhero Movie Christopher Nolan Called Extraordinary

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Christopher Nolan‘s Dark Knight trilogy is widely credited with changing superhero movies, but he acknowledges he built upon the work of earlier filmmakers. Though his realistic and impactful portrayal of Gotham City was a huge success, Nolan often praises those who came before him, especially Tim Burton. Burton’s Batman films from the late 1980s and early 1990s, in Nolan’s view, originally established the standard for the character.

Christopher Nolan once told Ain’t It Cool News that he thought Tim Burton’s take on Batman was truly remarkable. He described Burton’s earlier films as highly original and unlike anything else, feeling like a special kind of ambitious studio project. Burton’s 1989 film, starring Michael Keaton as Batman and Jack Nicholson as the Joker, created a visually distinct and unique world.

In an interview with Verbicide, director Christopher Nolan explained what he admired about Tim Burton’s Batman films: the uniquely detailed and gothic world Burton created for the character. Nolan felt this style was a perfect fit for Batman. However, Nolan’s own approach was different. He aimed to ground Batman in a realistic, everyday setting, making the hero seem truly exceptional to the people of Gotham.

I’ve always loved how Nolan, even when he started making things super realistic, still appreciated what Burton did – that willingness to lean into the fun, imaginative stuff. He actually talked about how he gets a kick out of figuring out the details, the ‘how did that happen?’ questions. Like, how did Batman actually get his suit made, or how did Alfred build the Batcave? He called those little details the ‘candy’ of the movie, and it’s a great reminder that even a director known for serious work can still enjoy the playful side of filmmaking.

As a huge Nolan fan, I’m incredibly excited about his next project! After the amazing success of Oppenheimer, he’s now putting the finishing touches on what sounds like a truly epic take on The Odyssey. It’s set to come out on July 17th, and from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be a massive, action-packed adventure. What’s really cool is that he shot the whole thing using brand-new IMAX film technology, traveling all over Greece, Italy, and Scotland to get the perfect shots. I can’t wait to see it!

This new film boasts an incredibly impressive cast of Hollywood’s leading actors. Matt Damon will play Odysseus, continuing his successful working relationship with director Nolan for the third time, and Tom Holland joins him as his son, Telemachus.

The film also stars Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, and Robert Pattinson as Antinous. Rounding out the stellar ensemble are Charlize Theron as the witch Circe, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jon Bernthal, making this one of the most star-packed movies in recent years.

Nolan calls this retelling of the classic tale a core piece of work, blending horror, mystery, and romance into a large-scale, $250 million movie. It’s expected to be the biggest film of the summer, and tickets for early showings have reportedly sold out faster than ever before.

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2026-02-05 22:14