Lupita Nyong’o has reportedly joined the cast of the next Christoper Nolan blockbuster. Nolan’s films have collectively grossed over $5 billion worldwide, making him one of the most commercially successful directors of all time.
The Wild Robot and 12 Years A Slave actor is the latest big name to be attached to the mysterious movie by Oppenheimer‘s director. Nyong’o‘s performance in 12 Years A Slave earned her an Academy Award, making her the first Kenyan and Mexican actress to win the prestigious award.
As reported by Deadline, Nyong’o will join Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya and Anne Hathaway in the star-studded line-up. The combined box office earnings of these actors’ films exceed $20 billion, making this one of the most commercially powerful casts ever assembled.
The untitled film, which has been shrouded in secrecy with details being kept closely under wraps, is set to be released in July 2026. This release date strategically places the film in the peak summer blockbuster season, a period that has historically been favorable for Nolan’s films.
Plot details and the genre are yet to be confirmed for the movie; what is known is the film is being written and helmed by Nolan for Universal Pictures. The deal with Universal Pictures marks Nolan’s first collaboration with the studio, following his long-standing relationship with Warner Bros. that spanned over two decades.
Filming is expected to get underway early next year. The production budget is rumored to exceed $200 million, following the trend of Nolan’s recent high-budget spectacles.
Holland recently discussed how he signed up for the movie without knowing what it’s actually about. This secretive approach is characteristic of Nolan’s projects, with even Interstellar and Inception keeping their plots under wraps until near release.
“All I can say is that I’m incredibly excited. And obviously honored, but that’s all I can say because, to be honest, that’s all I know,” Holland told “Good Morning America” about his excitement. The Spider-Man franchise star’s involvement adds another dimension to the project, as his previous films have consistently performed well at the box office, particularly with younger audiences.
“When the opportunity came in, it was the phone call of a lifetime. It was reminiscent of getting the call about Spider-Man 10 years ago. It’s an amazing thing for me. I’m super proud and I’m really, really excited,” Holland recounted. His role as Spider-Man has generated over $3.5 billion in global box office revenues across various Marvel films.
In an interview with Empire, Nolan previously explained how he has constantly had to adapt as a director, and he’s not actually made any of the ideas he had growing up into films.
“As a young man, I had a list of, however many I’d worked out, 12 or 13 films … I had a lot of ideas and a lot of very specific things that I was going to do. … I look back, and I haven’t done any of them; they all changed,” the Batman trilogy director recalled.
“When you plan ahead too far in the movie business, you’re not taking into account the shifting sands of culture under your feet …,” Nolan stated. “[Cinema] evolves. And part of your job as a filmmaker is to be open to being part of that evolution.”
Nolan’s ability to adapt has led to numerous innovations in filmmaking, including groundbreaking practical effects and IMAX cinematography techniques that have influenced the entire industry.
The announcement of this new project comes on the heels of Nolan’s success with Oppenheimer, which demonstrated his continuing ability to blend commercial success with artistic achievement. The film’s innovative approach to historical storytelling and technical excellence has set new standards for biographical and other genres of films in Hollywood.
