Christopher Nolan wants to team up with Christian Bale again after The Dark Knight trilogy
Christopher Nolan has addressed the prospect of reuniting with Christian Bale — and even teased anniversary re-release plans for one of his much-loved films.
If you ever wondered whether we’ll see Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan teaming up again, Nolan has just dropped a very clear 'yes please' on the matter. Not exactly what I’d call a shock, given their previous run, but it’s nice to have it on record straight from the source.
'The 20th anniversary of The Prestige gets a big screen re-release next year — on brand new 70mm prints.'
Back together again?
So, Nolan was chatting to The Hollywood Reporter, and someone put the big question to him: would he work with Bale again? Absolutely, was the vibe. He called Bale 'one of the great actors of his generation' (not wrong) and said he’s had 'tremendous experiences' working with him. If you’ve forgotten, Bale was Nolan’s go-to lead for three Batman films and The Prestige—possibly the only magician film most people can actually name.
The Prestige returns (again)
Now, here’s the bit film nerds will love. Nolan just confirmed that The Prestige is getting an anniversary re-release in cinemas for its 20th birthday next year. And not just any re-release: they’re taking the original 35mm anamorphic footage, blowing it up to 70mm, and giving it the big screen treatment it arguably deserved at the time. Nolan seems almost giddy about it, calling Bale’s performance in The Prestige 'underrated', and going out of his way to shout out both Wally Pfister’s cinematography and Nathan Crowley’s massive production design, which he reckons will look even better in the new format.
Apparently Nolan recently sat down for a personal screening of the 35mm print, just to check the quality himself before the 70mm work kicks off — which, by the sound of it, happens in the next few weeks. He wants it to feel new for audiences who missed it the first time round (which, to be honest, was most people).
The Nolan/Bale legacy — and what’s next
Bale, if you need a reminder, played Alfred Borden in The Prestige and Bruce Wayne/Batman across Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Their projects together didn’t just make money, they redefined the word 'blockbuster' for a good stretch of the 2000s.
You’d think Nolan would be busy enough with his new epic. Nope. He’s already hinting at more reunions, especially after the runaway box office results of his latest, The Odyssey. That one opened to $264 million worldwide—a new opening weekend record for Nolan—pulling in $124 million in the US alone. If you were wondering: Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, Robert Pattinson turns up in the supporting cast, and (in typical Nolan fashion) there are little winks and nudges to Bale’s earlier roles baked throughout the film.