Christopher NolanandDenis Villeneuveare two of the most celebrated directors in cinema today. Both are renowned for their cerebral approaches to blockbuster filmmaking, and for revolutionizing the sci-fi genre on the big screen. Born less than three years apart, the two directors share a surprising amount in common, despite coming from different continents and family backgrounds.
In fact, the career trajectories of the two filmmakers are eerily similar, with various odd parallels to be found in how they’ve gone about their work. Villeneuve’s cinematic releases over the past decade appear to have mirroredChristopher Nolan’s moviesin some senses.
While his appointment at the helm of the26thJames Bondmoviecould push Villeneuve in a different direction from Nolan’s oeuvre, it might simply strengthen the pair’s artistic bond. Both of them are massive fans of007.
Nolan and Villeneuve have developed a personal friendship alongside their big-screen rivalry. Each director has given the other a first-print screening of their latest film, a custom that Nolan’s adaptation ofThe Odysseymay well continue(viaCinemaBlend). This camaraderie between the two directors is only natural, though, when you consider the strange similarities between their 30-year film careers.
10Their Debut Feature Films Were Released In The Same Year
Christopher Nolan’s Following & Denis Villeneuve’s August 32nd On Earth
Back in 1998, Nolan was working as a videographer making corporate firms in London, while Villeneuve was a jobbing director in Montreal, whose first professional assignment was directing part of a Québécois reality TV series. Yet, somehow, both of them managed to put out their debut feature films that year.
Nolan’s was a neo-noirhomage to Alfred Hitchcock calledFollowing, while Villeneuve’s was an idiosyncratic drama movie calledAugust 32nd on Earth, the themes and setting of whichDunefans might well recognize. Neither film was particularly successful, although Nolan’s is a genuine work of art. But the two directors were on their way.
9Their First Hit Movies Were Both About Memory
Memento & Arrival
Nolan’s next project was a significant success for the young director, as his seminal, memory-themed crime thrillerMementobecame a minor box-office hit after debuting at the Venice Film Festival in 2000. Bizarrely, 16 years later, Villeneuve also had his first genuine commercial hit withArrival, another movie that explores the nature of memory.
Arrival’s parallel timelines, presented in non-linear fashion, represent another unlikely parallel between Villeneuve’s first major success and Christopher Nolan’sMemento.
Villeneuve had already had some box-office success over the previous three years with his own crime thrillers,SicarioandPrisoners. Nevertheless, it wasArrivalthat first put on the map as a big name in Hollywood, as it grossed over $200 million and won universal critical acclaim.
Arrival’s parallel timelines, presented in non-linear fashion, represent another unlikely parallel between Villeneuve’s first major success and Christopher Nolan’sMemento. The two movies are very different, but their thematic and structural similarities are uncanny.
8Both Became Household Names By Rebooting A Massive Franchise
Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy Rebooted Batman, While Villeneuve Rebooted Dune
IfMementowas a critical triumph that quickly developed into a cult classic, then Nolan’s fourth movie, released in 2005, turned him into a director whose name went before the titles on movie posters.Batman Beginsbegan Nolan’s radicaltransformation of Batman movies with hisDark Knight Trilogy. No superhero franchise would ever be the same again.
16 years later, Villeneuve took Frank Herbert’s iconicDunefranchise, only previously rendered on the big-screen in David Lynch’s divisive 1984 movie, and turned it into a cinematic juggernaut. Villeneuve’sDunefranchise has grossed over $1 billion so far, whileDune: Part Twohad a genuine chance of becoming the first sci-fi franchise film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
7Christopher Nolan Was Offered Blade Runner 2049
Villeneuve Ended Up Directing The Movie
It may seem as if Villeneuve has been 16 years behind Nolan since their directorial debuts, but in some cases, Villeneuve is actually a step ahead of his rival. For instance, when Nolan turned down the chance to directBlade Runner 2049, Villeneuve was on hand to make the movie his own.
The originalBlade Runnerhad a massive influence on Nolan, and he was wary of tarnishing its legacy with an inferior sequel, despite beingBlade Runner 2049producer Andrew A. Kosove’s first choice to direct. Villeneuve, anotherBlade Runnerfanatic, had no such concerns. He jumped at the chance to add his own masterful touch to the follow-up movie.
6Both Directors Fell Out With Warner Bros. In 2020
They Reacted Angrily To The Studio Canceling Exclusive Theatrical Releases For 2021
Three years after Villeneuve’sBlade Runner 2049was released to critical acclaim – including from Nolan – the two directors led a chorus of dissent against a controversial decision made by Warner Bros. The studio had decided to release its entire roster of new movies for 2021 on the streaming service HBO Max, concurrently with their theatrical releases.
Christopher Nolan’s 2023 movie Oppenheimer and upcoming 2026 release The Odyssey have been made in partnership with Universal Pictures rather than Warner Bros.
This decision affected Villeneuve’sDune, as well as the delayed theatrical run of Nolan’s movieTenet. Both filmmakers publicly expressed their anger with Warner Bros. for compromising the integrity of theatrical releases, and the cinematic viewing experiences. This episode even led to afeud between Nolan and Warner Bros., which was carried over into his next movie,Oppenheimer.
5Denis Villeneuve Is About To Direct A Nuclear War Movie
The Director Is In Talks To Adapt Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario
Following Nolan’s recording-breaking, Oscar-winning historical biopic about the invention of the atomic bomb,Denis Villeneuve could well make his own nuclear war movie. Villeneuve’sOppenheimerequivalent will be based on Annie Jacobsen’s non-fiction book,Nuclear War: A Scenario.
If Villeneuve does go ahead with making this film, it will likely be far more overtly dystopian thanOppenheimer.
If Villeneuve does go ahead with making this film, it will likely be far more overtly dystopian thanOppenheimer, given that its story would posit a hypothetical scenario rather than covering a real-life personal biography. Otherwise, it will be yet another weird parallel between his and Nolan’s careers to add to the list.
4They Both Always Wanted To Direct A James Bond Movie
Villeneuve Has Now Been Confirmed As The Director Of Bond 26
Now thatDenis Villeneuve has been confirmed asJames Bond’s next director, the anticipation is building towards the 26th movie of theBondfranchise. Directing this movie has been adream of Villeneuve’s for more than a decade, but he’s not the only one to have harbored this desire.
When asked byPlayboyin 2017 if he’d like to direct a Bond movie, Nolan responded, “Definitely.” He also revealed that he’d been in contact with the franchise’s producers, opening up the possibility of a collaboration in the future. While Villeneuve’s007dream is already coming true, there’s still plenty of time for Nolan to fulfill his, too.
3Hans Zimmer Is Their Regular Musical Collaborator
The Composer Has Scored 7 Nolan & 3 Villeneuve Movies So Far
GivenChristopher Nolan’s extensive collaborations with Hans Zimmer, it feels like Villeneuve may well have made a conscious decision to hire Nolan’s favorite film composer forBlade Runner 2049. Zimmer has scored both of Villeneuve’s subsequent movies for theDunefranchise, and looks set to continue as his musical collaborator moving forward.
As if Villeneuve didn’t already have enough in common with Nolan, their movies now have similar soundtracks as well. Nolan’s preferred cinematographer, Hoyte van Hoytema, who has previous experience working on aBondmovie, could be next.
2Their Spouses Work With Them On Their Movies
Emma Thomas Has Produced All Nolan’s Films & Tanya Lapointe Has Worked With Villeneuve Since 2015
In a further commonality between them, Villeneuve and Nolan both have their spouses serving as producers on their movies. Nolan’s wife, Emma Thomas, has produced every one of his movies since he started as a filmmaker. It’s Thomas who is best able to explain theending of Nolan’s masterpieceInception, given her intimate understanding of his work.
We could see Tanya Lapointe’s name on every Denis Villeneuve film from now on.
Villeneuve’s wife Tanya Lapointe has been involved in the production of his movies since they first got together in 2015.Arrivalwas their first collaboration, followed byBlade Runner 2049. Lapointe was credited as a producer ofDune: Part Two, and we could see her name on every Villeneuve film from now on.
1They Share The Same Favorite Film
Nolan & Villeneuve Both Idolize Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at the weird parallels between Nolan and Villeneuve’s careers, given that they both took the same work as their starting point in filmmaking. Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odysseyis the favorite film of both directors, and has been since before they were making movies themselves.
Nolan has named theKubrick classic as an inspiration for his moviesfor him more than any other work. Such is his love for2001that he famously restored the original celluloid of the film, before sending it on a world tour in 2018.
2001: A Space Odysseyis the only Kubrick film that appears on a list of Nolan’s recommended movies published byIndieWire. On the other hand, Kubrick was the first word that sprang to the director’s mind when he was asked about his favorite film onThe Rich Eisen Show.
Meanwhile, Villeneuve toldLetterboxdlast year that2001: A Space Odysseyhad been“top”of his favorite films list for many years. Although the other movies in his list change every day, that one remains there permanently.
There are plenty of unusual similarities betweenChristopher NolanandDenis Villeneuve. But their profound love for one of the greatest movies ever made is entirely ordinary, and something they share with millions of Kubrick fans the world over.
Christopher Nolan
Denis Villeneuve
Discover the latest news and filmography for Denis Villeneuve, known for Blade Runner 2049 and Dune.
