Christopher Nolan’s Modest $200 mil. ‘Inception’

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 15, 2009 Share

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When you make a pair of films that gross about $740million domestically, studios start to think that you’ve got your shit together and start giving you oodles of money.  Christopher Nolan’s next film, Inception, has just been budgeted at a whopping $200 million, a figure of note considering that The Dark Knight cost a meager $185 million to make.

The mysterious project is described as a modern day science fiction piece that will have something to do with the inside of the human mind and is aiming for a July 16, 2010 release.  While little is known about the plot or characters, /Film is reporting that some pretty significant sets will be built in Canada and that Nolan did some extensive scouting of locations.

With so much unknown, one might wonder why Nolan need so much cash – but I’ve got an idea on that.  Paying salaries.  Check out the list of people involved:

  • Christopher Nolan (You can bet he’ll be well payed)
  • Leonardo DiCaprio
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
  • Ken Watanabe
  • Marion Cotillard
  • Ellen Page
  • Tom Hardy
  • Cillian Murphy
  • Michael Caine

With a massive cast of A-level people and a great deal of construction work to be done up in Canada, that $200mil might not last all that long.  Plus, whenever you consider science fiction, you’ve got to figure some amount of CG will be involved, though it doesn’t have to be spaceships and could be, you know, mental stuff.  More as it comes.  Hit up /Film for a little more discussion on the characters.  Additionally, I’d say putting $200 million into this project is a bad idea considering for it to be successful it has to make like $250 million which isn’t anything to sneeze at.  Can Nolan do it again without the Caped Crusader?

Is $200 million too much?

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  • Viktor
    To all sceptics- it's not just $200 million thrown at a director- it's $200 million given to a guy who's never made a movie worse than a masterpiece..just think about Memento, both Batmans, Insomnia and the underrated Following. The only thing I would not be so sure about is casting DiCrap-io as a leading character- can he pull it off?
  • NightwingDoesExist
    I also think that Nolan is preparing "Inception" as a code name for "Batman" The Caped Crusader. Why all of the secrecy surrounding this new baby of his? After all 'The Dark Knight' was code named 'Rory's first Kiss'. Also he may be trying to resurrect Ra's Al Ghul played by Ken Watanabe. In maybe an action sequence that takes place in Tokyo. And they could be doing 1st unit filming without Bale. So he can continue to throw people off of his hot trail. I mean $200 million dollar movie on something that is so 'secretive'. Not even the actors can tell you what the movie is even about! It is going to be the movie of all movies. And I think the so called 'leaked' script. Tells it all, just to see if people can doubt that he can really do it again. Then BAM! He hits everyone with a sequel to the Dark Knight. Tentatively called: 'The Caped Crusader'!
  • ArgonautManX
    @Slashbeast:

    My thoughts exactly.
  • Brian Valentine
    I think over-budgeted sci-fi movies are generally dumbed down for mass audiences. buttt the talent involved will put butts in the seats, whether they understand the story or not... we'll see.
  • Governor
    $200 million is enough when you're giving "hundreds, if not thousands" of people work.
  • SlashBeast
    I'd rather see $200 million given to Nolan to make a legitimately great sci-fi film than see $200 million given to Michael Bay to film a series of mindless explosions.
  • Nathan
    Christopher Nolan has proven to be consistently awesome, movie after movie. However, I hope this doesn't turn into his King Kong. Studio's love to put money on a hot streak but they will also crucify you when you break it. Here's to hoping he can do it again.
  • tmikkelsen
    salvation har earned it's budget and we have yet to see the income from dvd sales...
  • Eriqqartman
    $200 million should not be tossed at any movie without much thought. Look at Salvation. I hope the studios and the people who pick movies have really debated the budget issue before issuing the 200million. Batman was more than Nolan. It was the legend, the story as well as the baddie that pulled all those dollars together.
  • What about Salvation?
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