Christopher Nolan reveals horror movie dream with one major catch

Acclaimed filmmaker admitted genre fascinates him, yet compelling story remains only reason he would finally make leap

Christopher Nolan has once again revealed that he wants to make a horror film, although the Oscar winning filmmaker insists he will only step into the genre when he finds an idea that genuinely excites him.

While promoting his upcoming epic The Odyssey, Nolan spoke about his long standing interest in horror and explained why audiences have yet to see him direct a traditional film in the genre. According to the director, the obstacle has never been a lack of enthusiasm. Instead, he believes every project begins with the right story, and that story has not arrived yet.

"I'd love to do a horror movie, but it's all about the idea," Nolan said during an interview. "It's all about is there a story that really compels you and I've never found that for me."

Although he has never directed a straightforward horror feature, Nolan believes elements of the genre already exist throughout his filmography. He pointed to Oppenheimer as an example, describing it as a film with significant horror qualities because of its dark subject matter and the emotional experience of living inside that story for an extended period.

Nolan also suggested audiences should expect moments of horror in The Odyssey. Based on Homer's ancient Greek epic, the film includes mythical creatures, supernatural threats and terrifying encounters that naturally lend themselves to suspense and fear. The director said he embraced those darker elements while adapting the classic story for the screen.

He explained that horror remains one of cinema's most effective genres because of its ability to create an immediate emotional response. Rather than relying solely on dialogue or exposition, horror places audiences inside the characters' experiences through atmosphere, tension and visual storytelling.

"I think it's a genre that is really essentially cinematic," Nolan said. "It's a visceral genre. It's one where you're really trying to give the audience a feeling of what the characters are experiencing."

Even without a dedicated horror film on his résumé, Nolan has frequently explored unsettling themes across his career. Insomnia examined guilt, obsession and psychological manipulation through its serial killer storyline, while The Prestige blended mystery, sacrifice and disturbing supernatural concepts into one of the director's darkest films. Many viewers have also highlighted frightening sequences in Interstellar, Inception and Batman Begins, despite those films belonging to different genres.

Interest in Nolan directing horror has continued to grow as the genre enjoys sustained commercial and critical success. Original horror films have consistently attracted audiences in recent years, while established filmmakers have increasingly experimented with psychological and supernatural storytelling.

Following the enormous success of Oppenheimer, which became one of the highest grossing R rated films in history, Nolan enjoys significant creative freedom with Universal Pictures. That has fuelled speculation that he could eventually pursue a passion project outside the large scale historical and science fiction spectacles for which he is best known.

For now, however, his focus remains firmly on The Odyssey. The ambitious adaptation stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal. The film reaches cinemas on July 17 and has already generated considerable anticipation following early reactions praising its scale and craftsmanship.