The followers of Christopher Nolan will always have free rent in their brains because to his mind-blowing works. The director has pushed the limits of time, space, and the human condition ever since making his debut with “Memento” in 2000. Few of his films have left as a lasting impression as “Inception,” despite his cerebral, immersive worlds becoming increasingly intricate and perplexing as time goes on.
It makes sense that a movie about the effects of subliminal suggestion would instil such a relentless curiosity in the human psyche. There are various hypotheses about what happened to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dom Cobb, and the movie continues to have the same impact now as it did when it first came out more than ten years ago. Had he actually returned to his family, as opposed to a dream-generated version of them? Did his totem, a spinning top that represents an artificial universe, indeed collapse right after the movie went dark, or does it continue to spin today?
Under Nolan’s habitual avoidance, these queries have only become worse. The questions around “Inception” and a potential return to that universe follow the director everywhere they go. Even the director’s most recent film, “Tenet,” was speculated to be a vague sequel to it. After the publication of “Tenet,” that idea was easily disproved, but does that mean there won’t be a “Inception” sequel?
A Sequel Is Not in the Works…
There is currently no hard evidence that a “Inception” sequel is being worked on. Except for his ideas for a “Inception” video game, Nolan has never shown much interest in going back to that setting, which fits in rather well with his general dislike of sequels. The “Dark Knight Trilogy” is the only set of movies he has produced that share more than simply passing themes. His work is often self-contained and intended to stand alone.
Though he doesn’t always do so, Nolan has been known to develop a single idea over the course of several movies. Both “Inception” and “Interstellar” examine the guilt of a parent who is estranged from his children. The director is renowned for basing his narratives on personalities (and consequently, actors) who bear some resemblance to him. Most of his movies include the brooding, fixated protagonist, which can give the impression that his writing is an outward manifestation of his inner conflicts.
That may also be the reason behind Nolan’s reluctance to explore a world he has already seen. The director uses his works as a form of catharsis. The topics that worry the director change as his conceptions develop and become more complicated, such as the shift from the subliminal in “Inception” to space in “Interstellar” and, finally, time in “Tenet.”
…But Inception’s Story Has Continued In Other Ways
It’s vital to remember that mystique is a crucial component of Nolan’s work, despite how annoying those unresolved questions might be. Because of the riddles surrounding his works, he has found an audience with so many people and developed such a devoted fan base. Cobb’s narrative was presented in “Inception” quite briefly. At least in terms of his exterior development, it didn’t finish as definitively as some may have imagined. However, what makes “Inception” so fulfilling is Cobb’s internal acceptance of his reality, whether it be a dream or not. It would feel like a step backwards and lessen the impact of “Inception” if a sequel attempted to explain what actually transpired behind that door.
Furthermore, the “Inception” world has already been further explored, though perhaps not in the way some fans might have wanted. After “Inception,” Warner Bros. published two companion comics that both focused on the movie’s immediate prequel. Despite being published on the now-defunct “Inception” website, “The Cobol Job” and “The Big Under” provided some background information regarding the theft that begins the movie.
If a “Inception”-related movie were to be made, a prequel would probably be more popular. There are persistent rumours on some websites that Nolan is working on a spin-off that would give his brother Jonathan the chance to helm his first significant motion picture. However, those statements are unsupported, and there is no proof that a supplemental movie will ever be made.
Nolan Seems to Have Moved On
In his movies, Nolan is not at all averse to subtext, and this is also true of his sporadic usage of paladins as lead actors. Given how much Robert Pattinson looked like Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb in “Inception,” the possibility that “Tenet” would be a sequel with Cobb’s kids as the main characters only grew stronger. Even though Pattinson’s character wasn’t Cobb’s kid, the director’s storytelling tendencies are nonetheless implied by the character’s resemblances to Nolan.
The passing of the torch was a theme in “Tenet,” just like it was in “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Interstellar.” In more than 20 years of filmmaking, Nolan introduced his first non-white protagonist in “Tenet.” It’s telling that Pattison drags John David Washington’s protagonist through the entire movie on a crash course in space and time before handing him the kingdom’s keys at the very end. It demonstrates Nolan’s interest in leaving a lasting legacy while also forming a new generation in his own image.
The next “Oppenheimer” will undoubtedly keep the filmmaker busy, but if fans want Nolan to return for a “Inception” sequel or spin-off, they should definitely start plotting their own mental heist.
