A special screening of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi masterpiece, Interstellar, recently took place in Los Angeles, followed by an insightful conversation between the director and actor Timothée Chalamet.
Chalamet, who acted as the evening’s moderator, shared his deep affection for the production, noting that he holds incredibly fond memories of the shoot and considers the film the crown jewel of his filmography.
“Despite having a relatively minor role—I believe I was twelfth on the call sheet—Interstellar happened during a chapter of my life when nothing in my career was guaranteed. It remains the project I hold closest to my heart out of everything I’ve done. I find myself revisiting it more frequently than any of my other films,” Chalamet reflected.
Nolan also delved into the film’s origins, reminding the audience that the project was originally developed for Steven Spielberg. The narrative was initially crafted by the director’s brother, Jonathan Nolan.
“He [Spielberg] spent years iterating on the story. There were some truly brilliant concepts, and the script went through various incarnations, but it never quite gathered the momentum he needed to move forward. When he transitioned to another project, I asked Jonathan how he’d feel if I stepped in to merge his story with some of my own ideas, shifting the core focus slightly. He was completely supportive of the direction I took.”
Chalamet further noted that the role of Tom—the son of the protagonist, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey)—was originally written as a much more substantial arc. However, during the transition in leadership, Nolan opted to streamline Tom’s storyline to better fit his creative vision.
Since its 2014 debut, Interstellar has cemented its status as a modern classic, earning $681 million at the global box office against a $165 million budget. The film was a hit with critics, maintaining a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and secured an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Chalamet has stayed busy with high-profile projects, recently starring in the sports dramedy Marty Supreme, one of A24’s most ambitious productions to date. He is also set to continue his work within Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune universe as the franchise moves forward.
