Which actors will Christopher Nolan bring back for his 2026 movie?

To quote a Christopher Nolan movie villain…”and here…we…go!”

With Christopher Nolan’s next movie set for a July 2026 release date, the Oppenheimer and Dark Knight filmmaker is officially back in the saddle. Not only will he be reuniting with Universal Pictures and IMAX cameras for the proceedings, but Matt Damon is reportedly in talks to star in the feature. Film geeks who recall the plethora of casting announcements during the pre-production of Dunkirk and Oppenheimer know what’s coming next. Expect a deluge of casting news over the next few months as a slew of recognizable names get cast in various roles in this untitled project.

Given that, we know nothing about this movie’s plotline, it’s impossible to tell who could play what role in Nolan’s next epic. However, given that Nolan loves to carry over actors from one movie to the next, you can bet some fixtures of his filmography will reappear here. Come with me, won’t you, on a frivolous exercise speculating on which actors could return in Nolan’s next feature. These actors are ranked from “least likely” to “most likely”, and given a likelihood percentage from one-to-100 on whether or not they’ll return. Some are pretty much impossible to return because of their 2025 schedules…others would be shocking to not see make at least a little cameo here.

Note that this is all speculation from yours truly, a lesbian bimbo from Texas. This is not based on “inside sources”, it’s just some rambling speculation from my own noodle. Nobody on Reddit claims I’m some “scooper” who just “broke the news” of who Nolans wants in his next movie. Now, with that out of the way, hold on to your dead wives and IMAX cameras, let’s dive into which actors Nolan could bring back for his next movie.

Robert Downey Jr.

Having just won an Oscar for Oppenheimer, one might normally think Robert Downey Jr. would be a cinch to come back for the next Nolan movie. A reunion between this movie star and the auteur sounds likely in the future, however, Downey Jr. already has two Avengers movies to shoot next. Doctor Doom's obligations will keep him from whatever Nolan does next.

Likelihood: 0%

Thomas Lennon

It’d be very funny if, come 2026, Thomas Lennon played an unnamed doctor for the third time in a Nolan movie following Memento and The Dark Knight Rises. That’s highly unlikely, though.

Likelihood: 10%

Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey’s very choosy about his movies these days. If Nolan beckoned, he might pick up the phone. However, it’s doubtful this Interstellar veteran will make another Nolan epic one of his next projects.

Likelihood: 15%

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway recently called Christopher Nolan her “angel” thanks to him casting her when other studios wouldn’t touch her. It’s been a decade since they worked together and Hathaway’s got a lot on her plate for 2025, though, so don’t expect Nolan’s 2026 move to reunite the duo.

Likelihood: 20%

John David Washington

Christopher Nolan’s often been one-and-done when it comes to his leading men. Guy Pearce, Matthew McConaughey, Fionn Whitehead, Al Pacino, Hugh Jackman, they’ve all anchored a Nolan movie…but never appeared again in his filmography. John David Washington, the star of Tenet, will undoubtedly continue this tradition by not appearing in Nolan’s 2026 feature.

Likelihood: 20%

Guy Pearce

The star of Nolan’s breakthrough movie Memento, Guy Pearce has never reunited with this filmmaker after their mind-bending collaboration. However,the duo did once talk about working together again on Batman Begins. The idea of uniting has clearly crossed Nolan’s mind. With Pearce getting significant Oscar buzz for The Brutalist this year, whatever Nolan’s cooking up for 2026 could be an ideal time for a reunion. Still, after two decades apart, it’s hard to imagine the pair suddenly being together again.

Likelihood: 25%

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt showed up in two consecutive Christopher Nolan movies with Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. Since then, he’s been M.I.A. form the man’s filmography. It’s doubtful there’s any “bad blood” here. Artists are busy people and that can keep them from reuniting. That reality will likely keep Joseph Gordon-Levitt out of whatever Nolan’s cooking next.

Likelihood: 25%

Gary Oldman

Legendary performer Gary Oldman made his first non-Dark Knight appearance in a Nolan movie with Oppenheimer. That could indicate he’ll show up in more further Nolan works, though Oldman’s busy Slow Horses schedule could make that difficult to realize.

Likelihood: 30%

Michael Caine

Michael Caine turned down appearing in Oppenheimer after making either on-screen or voice-over appearances in seven consecutive Christopher Nolan movies. With the man openly saying he’s basically retired, it’s doubtful even Nolan could get him back on the silver screen. Never say never, though, strangers things have happened in Hollywood…

Likelihood: 30%

Christian Bale

Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan made four movies together across 2005 and 2012. Since then, they’ve gone their separate ways and Bale’s got a packed schedule. Perhaps there could be room for a tiny appearance in the next Nolan movie, but it’s hard to imagine a big Nolan/Bale reunion is in the cards.

Likelihood: 30%

Jeremy Theobald

Before Christian Bale, before John David Washington, before Matthew McConaughey, there was Jeremy Theobald. The first Christopher Nolan leading man in the filmmaker's directorial debut Following, Theobald has since shown up again in Nolan's Batman Begins and Tenet. Though clearly not a dominant figure in Nolan’s works, it’s not inconceivable Theobald could make his fourth appearance in a Nolan movie come 2026.

Likelihood: 35%

Martin Donovan

A rare Insomnia actor that’s appeared in further Nolan movies, Martin Donovan returned to Nolan’s movies after nearly two decades with Tenet.  He’s not rampantly in Nolan’s works, but never count out a reliable character actor like him.

Likelihood: 35%

Robert Pattinson

The Tenet leading man actually helped inspire Nolan to pursue Oppenheimer thanks to a Tenet wrap party gift. Nolan also reportedly had some role in mind for Pattinson in Oppenheimer, but the actor’s busy schedule kept that from happening. These two artists clearly have a close bond and they’ll inevitably reunite someday…but probably not for Nolan’s 2026 movie. Pattinson’s shooting The Batman 2 in 2025, likely taking him out of the running for anything more than a one-scene appearance in this feature.

Likelihood: 35%

Josh Stewart

Josh Stewart After providing voice-work and an on-screen performance across three of Nolan's last five movies, Josh Stewart, though far from a household name, has a good shot at reappearing in whatever Nolan makes next.

Likelihood: 40%

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy was in three of Nolan’s four movies made from 2010 to 2017. To boot, he was a principal character in all three of those features. Now that Hardy’s free of his Venom commitments, he might just be available to appear in this 2026 feature. Still, Nolan got along fine without Nolan on Tenet and Oppenheimer…perhaps that golden age of 2010-2017 is in the past.

Likelihood: 45%

David Dastmalchian

It took David Dastmalchian 15 years to return to Nolan’s filmography after his memorable one-scene appearance in The Dark Knight. When he did, it was for a critical Oppenheimer role. With Dastmalchian bigger than ever now thanks to Late Night with the Devil, it feels more likely than not that he’ll find his way back to the Nolan fold eventually.

Likelihood: 55%

Cillian Murphy

Believe it or not, Nolan directed three movies after Batman Begins without Cillian Murphy: The Prestige, Interstellar, and Tenet. It’s possible for Nolan and Murphy to not work together on a movie but boy is it rare. After their work together on Oppenheimer, it’s highly doubtful Nolan is going to leave his previous leading man behind. Expect Murphy to at least have a tiny one-scene appearance in the next Nolan blockbuster.

Likelihood: 95%

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh has shown up in Nolan’s last three movies and has clearly scored a good relationship with this filmmaker. If there isn’t room for him to show up even briefly in whatever Nolan’s stewing for 2026, it’ll be astonishing.

Likelihood: 95%