Christopher Nolan has indicated that a horror film could be his next project, saying the genre is one he would seriously consider after the success of The Odyssey.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning filmmaker said working on scenes with horror elements in The Odyssey has increased his interest in making a full-fledged horror film.
Nolan’s latest epic has delivered the biggest worldwide opening weekend of his career. Released on 17 July, The Odyssey earned $254 million (£196 million) globally. It also marked the biggest opening for a live-action film this year, behind only Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Responding to fans who have long urged him to direct a horror film, Nolan joked that they no longer needed to ask.
“They don’t need to beg me to tell a horror story any more. Just buy a ticket,” he said.
The director added that exploring horror themes in The Odyssey had strengthened his desire to tackle the genre.
“It very much whets my appetite for more,” Nolan said. “But I’ve always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view. In other words, you have to have an amazing idea.”
He pointed to Obsession as an example of the kind of horror film he admires.
“When you go see a film like Obsession, that’s an amazing idea. That movie works like a motherf****r. It’s not about the technical side. It’s not about what technical itches I would have to scratch. It’s about story. So I’m always looking,” he said.
Directed by Curry Barker, Obsession became one of the year’s breakout horror hits. The film follows a man whose wish for his crush to fall in love with him leads to deadly consequences. Barker, who first gained attention through horror shorts on YouTube, has also said he plans to adapt more of his online projects into feature films.
Nolan also suggested audiences may have to wait several years for his next release. He recently said it would be “at least” three years before his next film after the demanding production of The Odyssey, which he described as pushing “the limits of my own stamina.”
