Christopher Nolan is known for his sharp, skilful direction. However, he is currently facing a set of responsibilities that may have far-reaching effects on the industry.
First, he is serving as a director on the highly anticipated film The Odyssey. The historical drama comes on the heels of the British filmmaker's outstanding success helming Oppenheimer, which won him his first Oscar for direction.
But this is not the only role he is serving. DGA, or the Directors Guild of America, and its president are another one. The union represents 20,000 members, making the post a consequential one for Nolan.
In a chat with Variety, he was asked how he manages the dual roles. He simply replied, “I see the value of having active, working members run the guild. I’m prepared to knuckle down and figure it out.”
However, Nolan's presidency comes at a time when the industry is facing a series of challenges. The loss of jobs to the rise of artificial intelligence, not to mention the streaming platforms overshadowing the theatrical model, are the ones.
In addition to managing important roles, there are criticisms.
Elon Musk, who typically airs his hot takes on his platform X, recently took aim at the director for reportedly casting Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in The Odyssey.
"Chris Nolan has lost his integrity," the Tesla founder writes, as in Homer's work, Helen is depicted as fair-skinned and blonde.
In the meantime, The Odyssey debuts in theatres on July 17.