Okay folks, it’s almost time to grab your masks (or not, depending on the chain), use some hand sanitizer, prevent yourself from coughing and sneezing, and sit about six feet apart from people to “relax” and enjoy the first major blockbuster of the summer movie season, “Tenet.” That’s right, we are merely weeks away from Christopher Nolan’s new film ushering in the post-COVID-19 theatrical experience for millions across the world. And even still, we’re not entirely sure what the hell “Tenet” is about. Thankfully, a new report from EW helps…kind of.
Speaking to the outlet, members of the cast and crew of “Tenet” talked about the new action film and why it’s going to blow our socks off. But hopefully not literally because we need all the protective layers we can get when trying to avoid a deadly virus that has infected millions across the world and killed hundreds of thousands.
While there were no secrets discovered in the new report, Nolan revealed that “Tenet” is far from a new idea in his mind. In fact, this is a script that the filmmaker said he’s been working on for “about six or seven years.”
READ MORE: Christopher Nolan Says ‘Tenet’s’ Action Is “Beyond Anything We’ve Ever Attempted Before”
But yet, it is a rare film that isn’t attached to an IP and has a budget that is more than a lot of superhero films. And according to one of the film’s stars, Robert Pattinson, “Tenet” is a “unicorn.” A unicorn that is going to destroy your brain and welcome you back to the joys of the theatrical experience.
“[‘Tenet’ is] kind of a unicorn of a movie anyway, because it’s not based on an IP thing,” says Pattinson. “But after [COVID-19] — hopefully it will be a ridiculously overwhelming experience.”
Part of the overwhelming experience of the film relies on the action, which itself is unique to the film, as there is a lot of time manipulation at play. But don’t call it time travel. According to Nolan, “Tenet” is definitely not a time travel film. It’s…something else.
“This film is not a time-travel film,” said the filmmaker. “It deals with time and the different ways in which time can function. Not to get into a physics lesson, but inversion is this idea of material that has had its entropy inverted, so it’s running backwards through time, relative to us.”
READ MORE: Kenneth Branagh Compared Reading The ‘Tenet’ Script To Doing A Crossword Puzzle
Did you get that?
Needless to say, there’s still a lot of mystery and confusion surrounding “Tenet.” Is it a secret sequel to “Inception?” Is it Nolan’s attempt at James Bond? Why is it a good idea for bullets to travel back inside of guns? And why the hell is the filmmaker deadset on releasing the film this year, when the world in the midst of a global pandemic?
Well, regarding that last question, it appears that Nolan isn’t as hellbent on releasing the film in theaters right now, as you might have heard. At least, that’s what he’s saying.
“I can really only take responsibility for finishing the film and trying to make entertainment that’s worth going back to the movies for,” he said. “That’s the kind of film we’ve always tried to make, and ‘Tenet’ is no exception.”
“Tenet” is set to arrive in theaters on July 31. Maybe.