Christopher Nolan is in the running for Best Director at the 2024 Academy Awards. The British-American filmmaker has earned enormous praise for bringing the story of the Father of the Atomic Bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, to the big screen.
Nolan has received plaudits for a number of things, including Oppenheimer’s impeccable screenplay and breathtaking visuals. And as far as the documentary feature’s cast is concerned, they’ve all waxed lyrical about just how controlled and sharp everything was on his set.
However, the much-acclaimed director was anything but professional when he directed Stephen Colbert.
Christopher Nolan’s Attempt to Prank Stephen Colbert Didn’t Work at All
Christopher Nolan isn’t afraid of going to extreme lengths in his attempts to deliver a masterpiece for the big screen.
Be it roping in the industry’s biggest names for not just major roles but also for characters with just a few lines (just ask Rami Malek!) or blowing up a real Boeing 747 instead of relying on visual effects to give his viewers the best possible experience, the filmmaker strives for the absolute best.
This also means creating a seamless behind-the-scenes experience for his actors. In order to do that, Nolan frequently works with more or less the same main crew as they understand his vision.
However, the Tenet director failed to create a similar environment for Stephen Colbert. Instead, he tried to prank him by splashing water on him on the ‘set’ of Oppenheimer.
The pair collaborated on a skit for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The host assumed the role of the theoretical physicist and Nolan seemingly directed the scene.
As Colbert delivered the iconic line, “Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds,” he was thrown off his rhythm by his director’s hilarious antics.
Eventually, the annoyed ‘actor’ yelled, “You son of a b*tch,” before chasing his director on the set. It’s fair to assume this is Nolan’s most disappointing (and hilarious) stint as a filmmaker.
Christopher Nolan Surprised Stephen Colbert With Fast and Furious Admission
Nolan didn’t just surprise the audience with his prank. During the interview with Colbert, the 53-year-old also raised a few eyebrows by sharing his love for the Fast and Furious franchise.
The Vin Diesel-led movies are very entertaining but they aren’t always among cinephiles’ list of favorite films due to their over-the-top action sequences and incoherent screenplays.
“I have no guilt about being a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise,” Nolan stated. “I watch those movies all the time. I love them. I’m amazed you’ve never seen one of them. It’s only the last few where a specific arc and mythology develop.”
If anything, Nolan was seemingly surprised by Colbert’s admission that he had never seen any of those movies. The auteur also seemingly suggested that one should start the franchise with Tokyo Drift.
