The Only Movies Christopher Nolan Dropped Out of Directing
When a director attaches themselves to a movie, it doesn't always mean the film will be made. Christopher Nolan, however, is known for seeing his projects through to completion once he gets involved. In contrast, Guillermo del Toro, a three-time Academy Award winner, has spent many years developing films that never reached production, losing over a decade to projects that never materialized.
Since becoming a major brand and a knighted Oscar winner, Nolan has gained the freedom to choose projects that typically come to fruition. This explains why there are only two known instances where Nolan stepped away from directing a movie, both occurring before his first billion-dollar success with The Dark Knight.
Howard Hughes Biopic and The Prisoner
One of these projects was Nolan's version of the Howard Hughes biopic. Although Nolan’s adaptation was shelved after Martin Scorsese's version began filming, Nolan never officially exited the director's role since the project was halted due to external factors. His version was expected to be a landmark role for Jim Carrey.
On the other hand, Nolan did formally drop out of The Prisoner, a proposed adaptation of the iconic 1960s TV series, marking one of the rare times he abandoned a directing effort.
"Nolan was crushed when his version of the story was mothballed after Martin Scorsese got his in front of the cameras first."
In comparison, Nolan's career reflects his remarkable ability to bring projects from development to the big screen, unlike some peers who have faced repeated setbacks.
Summary
Christopher Nolan’s rare departures from directing projects underline his strong track record of completing films, with only two notable exceptions occurring early in his career before major success allowed greater creative control.
Author's summary: Christopher Nolan’s early career saw just two directing exits before his rise to prominence, highlighting his industry strength in successfully completing projects.