How do you follow up an all-time great movie like seven-time Oscar winner Oppenheimer? It was a Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, box office juggernaut. How do you live up to something that good?That’s a classic case of not our problem. It’s Christopher Nolan’s. The director is the one who has to figure out what do after reaching the peak of his industry. What we know is where he’ll try to do just that. Nolan is going back to Universal to see if that partnership can find movie magic again in the summer of 2026. And he could be going back to the studio with a familiar face. Oppenheimer and Interstellar‘s Matt Damon is reportedly in talks to star in the film.
Variety reports Christopher Nolan is sticking with Universal for his next film. The director produced Oppenheimer with the studio after ending his decades long partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures. However, it seemed possible he might end up back at his old home. Warner Bros. was said to be trying to mend things with him in hopes of luring Nolan. Clearly they will have to wait at least one more movie for a reunion.
Universal has already lined up a prime spot for Nolan’s unnamed film, which he is also writing. It will arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026. While details, subject matter, or even genre are unknown at this time, the movie will reportedly get an IMAX release. That’s no surprise for a Christopher Nolan release.
Also not a surprise is that Matt Damon could potentially star in it. The two have worked together previously and Damon has talked about how much he loves Christopher Nolan. The director also found incredible success elevating one of his longtime supporting stars, Cillian Murphy, to a lead role.
Will turning one of his supporting actors into a main role for a movie at Universal guarantee Christopher Nolan finds Oppenheimer-level success again? Of course not. But we wouldn’t rule it out, either.
