Tenet is a 2020 action thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The cast of the film consists of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh.
The film was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on July 17, 2020 by Warner Bros. Pictures, but due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus, was moved to new release dates multiple times.[1][2] On July 20, Warner Bros. removed it from theatrical release and was switching to "an unconventional theatrical rollout".[3]
Plot
A secret agent is tasked with preventing World War III by using time-travel technology.
Cast
- John David Washington
- Robert Pattinson
- Elizabeth Debicki
- Dimple Kapadia
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Clémence Poésy
- Michael Caine
- Kenneth Branagh
Production
Pre-production
Tenet went under the working title Merry Go Round during pre-production.
Casting
John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki were cast in March 2019. Pattinson said the script was kept so secret that he was only permitted to read it once while locked in a room. The casting of Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh was announced as filming started. Himesh Patel joined in August, with Denzil Smith being added the following month. Martin Donovan was revealed upon the release of the first trailer. In January 2020, Sean Avery announced his involvement in production.
Kapadia's screen test was shot by director Homi Adajania while working on his 2020 film Angrezi Medium. Caine worked with Washington for a day.
Filming
Principal photography began in May 2019 and took place in seven countries — Denmark, Estonia, India, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and United States. Filming in Estonia happened in June and July, with the Linnahall, Pärnu Highway, and adjacent streets closed to facilitate it. Tallinn mayor Mihhail Kõlvart expressed concerns about potential disruptions as the original shooting schedule required that the arterial Laagna Road be closed for one month. Production eventually reached a compromise involving temporary road closures and detours. The city government later granted a two-day extension to allow filming to be completed. Scenes were shot in Ravello, Italy and Hampstead, England at Cannon Hall late August, and on the roof of the Oslo Opera House and in Tjuvholmen, Norway, and in Rødbyhavn, Denmark at Nysted Wind Farm early that September.
A five-day shoot occurred later that month in Mumbai, where Nolan had traveled in February and April for location scouting. He decided on Breach Candy Hospital, Cafe Mondegar, Colaba Causeway, Colaba Market, Gateway of India, Grant Road, Royal Bombay Yacht Club, and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. A restaurant set named "Chaand" was built near the hotel, but never used, serving only as an alternative. Forty boats were positioned at the Gateway of India, where the crew also rescued a man who had attempted suicide. A stunt where someone jumps off a building was done in Grant Road, and a helicopter was applied for aerial footage of the hospital.
Director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema used a combination of 70 mm film and IMAX.
Post-production
Ludwig Göransson composed the score as Nolan's frequent collaborator Hans Zimmer was committed to the 2020 film Dune. Jennifer Lame edited the film, replacing Nolan's long-time editor Lee Smith.
Release
Warner Bros. Pictures has scheduled Tenet for a August 12, 2020 release in IMAX, 35 mm, and 70 mm film. The release date was July 17, 2020 until the studio delayed the film due to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic. In August 2019, Warner Bros. debuted a forty-second teaser ahead of Hobbs & Shaw previews. It was attached to Indian showings of Joker in October.
The first trailer was published online in December, when the prologue played in select IMAX theaters before Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It was introduced in Indian IMAX screenings of Birds of Prey in February 2020. On May 21, 2020, the second trailer was posted online, it was also promoted in Fortnite's Party Royale mode. The film's inverted logo had been altered around this time because it came to light that a bicycle brand had the same design.
Critical Reception
Tenet received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, The film has a score of 75% based on 177 reviews with an average score of 7/10.
Videos
Trailers
Christopher Nolan |
|
|---|---|
| Director |
Following (1998) • Memento (2000) • Insomnia (2002) • Batman Begins (2005) • The Prestige (2006) • The Dark Knight (2008) • Inception (2010) • The Dark Knight Rises (2012) • Interstellar (2014) • Dunkirk (2017) • Tenet (2020) • Oppenheimer (2023) |
| Producer |
Following (1998) • The Prestige (2006) • The Dark Knight (2008) • Inception (2010) • The Dark Knight Rises (2012) • Man of Steel (2013) • Transcendence (2014) • Interstellar (2014) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) • Dunkirk (2017) • Justice League (2017) • Tenet (2020) • Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) • Oppenheimer (2023) |
| Writer |
Following (1998) • Memento (2000) • Batman Begins (2005) • The Prestige (2006) • The Dark Knight (2008) • Inception (2010) • The Dark Knight Rises (2012) • Man of Steel (2013) • Interstellar (2014) • Dunkirk (2017) • Tenet (2020) • Oppenheimer (2023) |
References
- ↑ "‘Tenet’ Moves To July 31; 10th Anniversary Reissue Of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ To Go On July 17", Deadline, June 12, 2020
- ↑ "Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ Delays Release Date Again", Variety, June 25, 2020
- ↑ "‘Tenet’ Undated For Now: Warner Bros. To Announce New Date “Imminently”, Pic’s Theatrical Global Rollout Won’t Be “Traditional”", Deadline, July 20, 2020