Christopher Nolan is one of the most acclaimed and talented directors of our time. Known for non-linear storylines and mind-boggling plots, the Oppenheimer director has an auteur of his own. The director has also won a number of accolades for many of his movies. So, to have a name like his attached to a project is a big deal for many creators.
Many TV shows, oftentimes invite big names to direct an episode or two for their series. It helps the show get more viewership and increases its popularity. Once Christopher Nolan was approached by the creators of the MacGruber to direct an episode, but the director declined. This forced them to take some extreme measures to get the Memento director’s attention.
MacGruber creators adopted extreme measures to get Christopher Nolan on board
While promoting the show MacGruber, creator Jorma Taccone revealed his relentless effort to get Christopher Nolan to direct or feature in one of the episodes of the then-upcoming season. It all happened in the aftermath of the Inception director sharing that he enjoys watching the original movie.
Soon after hearing the news, Taccone met Christopher Nolan at a dinner and asked him to contribute to the show. Sharing with Collider, the MacGruber creator stated that his encounter with Nolan gave him the idea to make an episode that opens with “Directed by Christopher Nolan” with an asterisk and in the end, another title card would show reading, “*not actually directed by Christopher Nolan.”
Another idea the creator shared in the same interview was the director making a cameo in one of the episodes, but the Oscar-winning director wasn’t interested in either of those scenarios and turned him down. This led to him adopting an extreme measure. He shared with Collider that he then decided to pull off a trick he called “peer-pressuring via the press.” He stated the same when the host suggested that the interview could lead to collaboration in future seasons.
Christopher Nolan sent a heartfelt note to the creators of MacGruber
Jorma Taccone, in a previous interview with Vanity Fair, stated that he had invited Christopher Nolan to join the pilot read-through but the director couldn’t make it. But he did reply with an e-mail, which according to the creators was “the best f–king email. It’s kind of stellar. It was such an amazing way to start the read-through.”
The makers further shared the contents of the email with Vanity Fair:
“Though I can’t be there in person to watch you take the first step of your odyssey—know that my spirit soars with you, and whilst it’s perhaps unfair to add to the great sense of responsibility you must already feel, I am duty bound to tell you—the world is waiting, the world is watching.”
Getting a pat on the back from Christopher Nolan is not a small deal for any creator, so when the MacGruber makers received the message, they felt acknowledged and motivated.
Source: Collider
