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It's Official: Nolan Directing WWII Film 'Dunkirk' Starring Tom Hardy
by Alex Billington
December 28, 2015
Source: The Wrap
Christopher Nolan is making a WWII movie! Rumors hit over the weekend, after the Mayor of Dunkirk, France announced that a major film production was shooting in May, and now details have been confirmed. The Wrap reports that Nolan is directing a film called Dunkirk, about the WWII evacuation of Dunkirk, France in 1940 (before the US really got involved in the war). He will be filming at the exact location in France this summer, with a release set for July 2017. In addition, they're saying that actors Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance are in talks to star in the action-thriller (in unspecified roles). This is very exciting, even though I was hoping he would tell a WWII story greater in scope than just Dunkirk.
The original report from France, via Nolan Fans, just referenced that a major production would be moving into Dunkirk and filming through May and June. Apparently Nolan and his brother have been visiting recently to scout and learn about Dunkirk. The Wrap also adds another exciting detail - the "large scale film" will be shot on a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film. Nolan making a WWII movie, filming it in 65mm? Now this sounds amazing. But I can't help but wonder if there is something more to this, another piece of the puzzle that makes it unique that we don't yet know about. Here's a quote from WB:
"We are thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Christopher Nolan, a singular filmmaker who has created some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films of all time. 'Dunkirk' is a gripping and powerful story and we are excited to see Chris, Emma and their cast realize it on the big screen," said Greg Silverman, president of creative development and worldwide production at Warner Bros.
The other details trickling in from France indicate that this is going to be a massive production, with a huge crew and cast, not a small-scale intimate war film. Warner Bros currently has Dunkirk scheduled for release on July 21st, 2017, and production will begin this summer and last likely a few months (beyond just shooting on location, they'll probably end up shooting at a production facility later). The film will be released theatrically on IMAX, 70mm and 35mm, as well as digital formats, when it's released in 2017. I am a huge Nolan fan, and I'm a huge WWII movie fan, so this is kind of a dream come true, which is funny because I also said Nolan making a sci-fi movie was a dream come true. I'm just excited. I can't wait to see what he's planning and learn more about this new WWII movie. Stay tuned for additional updates.
15 Comments
1
Wow, should be REALLY interesting
Efterklang on Dec 28, 2015
2
can't wait...big WWII buff so more WWII films the better!
desispeed on Dec 28, 2015
3
Greater in scope than Dunkirk? Are you kidding me, Dunkirk was so much more than just a small part of a much larger war...
FuziJuzi on Dec 28, 2015
4
Great news, good to hear Nolan will be firmly rooted on solid ground in terms of story for once.
cuckoozey on Dec 28, 2015
5
at this point, I'd watch anything that has hardy and branagh
dan on Dec 28, 2015
6
Let's hope he just tells a simple story without veering off into wildly pretentious and intentionally irrational guff.
Payne by name on Dec 28, 2015
7
What do you mean by greater in scope? Like worldwide? Dunkirk was an enormous undertaking and fiasco, an epic unto itself. There are thousands of stories in that one event that can reach to many other grander meanings within wider scope of WWII, while giving Nolan the opportunity to focus on more intimate moments. There have been enough "grand scale" WWII films that end up all over the place. This might give Nolan some more narrow confines to operate in. He's gone a bit obtuse (although still interesting) in his more recent outings.
mustang55 on Dec 28, 2015
8
Thank you, Mustang. These were my thought exactly. Huge story. Hopefully it will be treated as such with utmost, due respect.
KLD on Jan 4, 2016
9
Despite his last couple films tepid response, I am still very excited for whatever chooses to make. I am always down for a new WWII film as I find it immensely fascinating.
DAVIDPD on Dec 28, 2015
10
Would of loved something on the exploits of Anders Lassen so that it was in the southern part of Europe. Seem to have a trend for a more northern focus with WW2 films.
Steven on Dec 29, 2015
11
Sorta meh feeling
Xerxexx on Dec 29, 2015
12
Having doubts because there so much ww2 stories and the best are already made by Spielberg( saving private ryan).But it is Nolan so expecting a great movie,,,
ari smulders on Dec 29, 2015
13
as movies go yea, but I think the best "ww2 stories" are the band of brothers series.
dan on Dec 29, 2015
15
I hope it will show the heroÏc sacrifice of the French, and not fall in the usual "French soldiers are cowards" stereotype that the anglo-americans love so much.
Nicolas HL on Dec 29, 2015
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