Christopher Nolan’s long list of demands killed talks with Apple TV+

According to a new report, “Inception” and “Tenet” director Christopher Nolan met with Apple TV+, Sony, and others before accepting Universal’s deal for his next project. As per the report, Apple did not agree to Nolan’s long list of demands which included a theatrical window, a 20% cut, and more.

Apple TV+ reportedly held secrets talks with Christopher Nolan

According to The Hollywood Reporter, unnamed “highest executives” from Apple and the others, met with Nolan at his own editing and post-production facility. The executives got to read the screenplay for Nolan’s next project, a film centered around one of the names behind the atom bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Then negotiations began, except Nolan had particular, film requirements which he was not intent on changing. Those conditions included Nolan having total creative control and 20 percent of first-dollar gross. The budget for the smaller-scale feature film is around $100 million and a similar amount for marketing.

In addition to this, the director asked for a blackout period wherein the company would not release another movie three weeks before or three weeks after his release. This is where Apple pulled out of the talks. Although the tech giant was willing to commit to a 100-day theatrical window,

Sony and Universal stayed in contention until the end but it was Universal that ultimately ended up securing the rights to the project.

Apple TV+ reportedly held secrets talks with Christopher Nolan

Asma Hussain