Netflix is ready to fill the void. The choice to show off the films on HBO Max was made due to the various restrictions still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting the access that audiences have to theatres. In the theater-versus-streaming debate that has gotten more and more heated among filmmakers, Nolan is squarely in team theatre, and he openly criticized the move, later stating that he was unlikely to work with WB again.
While the longevity of this falling out is in question, with no official confirmation about the working relationship between WB and Nolan being on ice, Netflix is keen to swoop in and make friends with the filmmaker. An odd idea, to say the least, since the entire situation arose out of Nolan’s support of theatrical experiences as opposed to streaming. Netflix movie chief Scott Stuber is hopeful for a partnership regardless, following Netflix’s success in working out a deal with Amblin Entertainment and the similarly theatre-supporting Steven Spielberg. Not four years ago Nolan stated outright that he will never work with the streaming company due to Netflix’s “bizarre aversion to supporting theatrical films”, and that he disagrees with the stance of releasing films on streaming platforms at the same time as in theatres. Since Nolan has never made secret his stance on streaming and Netflix specifically, it is an odd partnership to pursue. Nonetheless, Stuber seems adamant and has stated that he is will “do everything he can”, going on to say that Netflix would be a home for Nolan and that he just needs to know what needs to be done to make it happen. In any case, Nolan has officially called HBO Max the “worst streaming service”, so at least Netflix isn’t starting from the bottom. Christopher Nolan has yet to announce his next film.
