Jeff Sneider is reporting, via his excellent newsletter, that Christopher Nolan has reunited with Warner Bros for a “Tenet” re-release — the 2020 film will open on Friday, Feb. 23, and play for one week leading up to the March 1 release of Dune: Part Two.
I’m told that the idea to put Tenet back into theaters was actually Nolan’s idea and that when he approached Warner Bros. executives with it, they were more than receptive. Not only did they see the possible benefits for Dune: Part Two, but they know that Tenet got screwed, and in more ways than one.
“Tenet” was released at the height of the pandemic on Sept. 3, 2020, in fact it was the first big blockbuster to open during the pandemic era. It managed to gross $365 million worldwide, but it took in a measly $58 million at the domestic box office.
This also seems to be an olive branch opportunity for Warner Bros. to repair its relationship with Nolan, which, according to Sneider is “of the utmost priority to David Zaslav.” It remains to be seen whether Nolan has committed to making his next film for the studio, but they are now back in business.
This will be a good opportunity to listen to Sean Baker’s advice and give “Tenet” another shot. The film was the most divisive film of Nolan’s career, but has gained a cult following since its release. There’s also a large subreddit, with over 40k subscribers, dedicated to unlocking the film’s mysteries.