Christopher Nolan says the MCU helped keep movies alive after COVID: “Thank God for Marvel movies”

Nolan thinks the MCU had a big impact on the box office

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Christopher Nolan has credited Marvel with helping cinema bounce back after pandemic-induced shutdowns turned theaters dark.

In conversation withThe New York TimesandOppenheimeractor Robert Downey Jr., Nolan acknowledged the impact the MCU has had on the box office. “Let Jon Favreau [Iron Man director] take a huge risk, and there you go,” he said, referring to Downey Jr.’s role in the MCU as Iron Man. “No, the truth is, I think Jon Favreau casting Robert as Tony Stark isone ofthemost significant and consequential casting decisionsin Hollywood history.”

He continued: “It wound up defining our industry. Coming out of COVID, you say, ‘Thank God for Marvel movies.’ And it’s one of those where, in retrospect, everybody thinks it was obvious. But he took an enormous risk casting you in that role.”

Nolan himself released a movie during COVID:Tenethit theaters in 2020 and grossed over $365 million at the worldwide box office. Marvel’s first release following the shutdowns wasBlack Widow, which debuted simultaneously on streaming throughDisney Plus Premier Access(Scarlet Johansson eventually sued Disney over the strategy). Black Widow grossed over $379 million worldwide.

Nolan, meanwhile, is up for Best Director for Oppenheimer at the 2024 Oscars, and Downey Jr. has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lewis Strauss. Oppenheimer is also up for Best Picture, and Cillian Murphy has been nominated for Best Actor. See the full list of2024 Oscars nominationsthrough the link.

Next up for Marvel isDeadpool 3, which hits theaters this July 26. In the meantime, check out our guide to all theupcoming Marvel movies and TV showsfor everything else the MCU has in store.

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I’m a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site’s Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

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