Christopher Nolan recently revealed he persuaded Ryan Coogler to shoot his 2025 film Sinners in IMAX. The two-time Oscar winner said Coogler had called before committing to the format, uncertain whether the choice made creative sense.
"Ryan called me before he committed to IMAX," Nolan recalled, according to Deadline Hollywood. Nolan reassured him the format was creatively sound.
Sinners earned Autumn Durald Arkapaw the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Nolan has championed IMAX throughout his career, from Oppenheimer to The Dark Knight trilogy.
The conversation exemplifies how established directors mentor peers through major creative decisions. Coogler, fresh off Black Panther's success, was willing to experiment. Nolan's endorsement apparently settled the question.
Nolan has long positioned himself as an advocate for premium cinema formats. His commitment to shooting on film stock and expanding IMAX's technical possibilities is well known in the industry. This exchange with Coogler suggests he shares that knowledge freely with other filmmakers considering the format.
Arkapaw's cinematography win validated Coogler's choice. Sometimes a call from a director with Nolan's track record is enough to make the unconventional decision seem inevitable.
