Christopher Nolan, one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, has been elected President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), stepping into the role at a time when the union faces major shifts in the industry.
Nolan succeeds Lesli Linka Glatter, who served two terms from 2021. The Oppenheimer director, already a member of the Guild’s national board, will now lead the 19,000-strong organization as it prepares for the next round of labour talks with the studios.
“To be elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honours of my career,” Nolan said in a statement. He credited Glatter’s leadership and added, “Our industry is experiencing tremendous change, and I look forward to working with the new Board to achieve important creative and economic protections for our members.”
During Glatter’s tenure, the DGA prioritized set safety and played a key role in Sacramento lobbying efforts, including the pilot program requiring safety supervisors on tax-incentive productions.
The Guild also pushed for expanding California’s film tax credit and fought for stronger streaming residuals, especially from foreign platforms.
With contract negotiations looming, the DGA’s current agreement expires in mid-2026, Nolan’s leadership will likely be tested early. The Guild was the only major Hollywood union to avoid a strike in the 2023 bargaining cycle, reaching a deal that set a framework later cited in the WGA and SAG-AFTRA disputes.
