Christopher Nolan Goes To Dunkirk With Top Secret WWII Film

Christopher Nolan has kept everyone guessing with his latest project, keeping details about his next film hushed. In fact, everything about this next project has been treated more delicately than most top secret government operations, but a French mayor may have already spilled the news with statements made to a local newspaper in the hopes that the news might bolster tourism.

Christopher Nolan Gets Outed In A French Newspaper

Best known for films like Interstellar and the Dark Knight trilogy, Nolan has been working on a new kind of project and fans have been anxious to learn even the smallest details about it. The French newspaper La Voix Du Nord may have revealed the whole story in an article published on Friday when it stated that Nolan was busy setting up production arrangements for a WWII epic about the evacuation of Dunkirk, France. The historic evacuation took place in May and June of 1940. The newspaper article said that Nolan was scouting locations in the vicinity of the village, which is located in northern France.

La Voix Du Nord wasn’t the first to spoil Christopher’s new project. Several weeks ago, Dunkirk mayor Patrice Vergriete announced that an “American superproduction and a world-renowned director” would be setting up in Dunkirk for a top secret film. Considering the town’s history, there could be little doubt that Vergriete was speaking of the WWII epic to be helmed by Nolan.

While it’s still early and the WWII film is still in the pre-production phases, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and Tom Hardy are already linked to the cast. Other roles will allegedly be filled by unknown actors and actresses.

Dunkirk, which will be Nolan’s first war genre film, is slated for a July 21, 2017 theatrical release.

Dunkirk Played A Pivotal Role In WWII And May Do The Same For Christopher Nolan

Dunkirk will be produced by Nolan and wife, Emma Thomas, based on Christopher’s own original screenplay. Ms. Thomas and Nolan have a long history of working together on many past films.

“We are thrilled to be continuing our collaboration with Christopher Nolan, a singular filmmaker who has created some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films of all time,” said Greg Silverman, president of Creative Development and Worldwide Production. “Dunkirk is a gripping and powerful story and we are excited to see Chris, Emma and their cast realize it on the big screen.”

Dunkirk gained notoriety in the Battle of France, because all might have been lost, if German forces hadn’t halted their advance. The British Expeditionary Force, coming to the aid of the French military, found themselves cut off from the French army and trapped by German forces. Some historians say that Hitler ordered the halt, putting a stop to any further advancements by the German army, while others claim the order came from commander Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt. Whatever the truth, that halt gave British forces time to evacuate the city of Dunkirk, France.

In the meantime, Winston Churchill issued orders to any boat in the area, regardless of its size, to take on as many of the 338,226 men, which included 123,000 French soldiers, as they were physically able. Before it was over, it had taken over 900 vessels to evacuate Allied forces from Dunkirk’s shores. The rescue was codenamed Operation Dynamo, but Churchill himself often referred to it as “the miracle of Dunkirk” in his writings and speeches.

As a testament to the battle and evacuation of Dunkirk, France, the city if Dunkirk, New York in the United States shares its name and considers itself a sister city.

[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]