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

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

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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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  • Christopher Nolan wants Michael Caine to be his new daddy. I'm now completely convinced.
  • Ryan
    I am thinking this is lining up to be the next Batman movie. Look at the correlations between casting rumours and the cast of the film (not to mention returning players from past Batman films).

    We'll see.
  • Jack
    Dear God no, a Batman movie with DiCaprio? You might as well throw in Eddie Murphy as the Riddler.
  • Really you'd hate to see one of the greatest actors of his generation star in the next Batman?
  • Mladen
    hmmm... thats actually a pretty interesting theory, may be some truth in it....
    After all, a budget of 200 mill is mad....
  • Thats retarded man. Only the fanboy rumors bring up Batman. Nolan doesnt seem nearly as interested.
  • 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?
  • tmikkelsen
    salvation har earned it's budget and we have yet to see the income from dvd sales...
  • 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.
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