Spielberg Reveals Year on Interstellar Before Nolan Took Over

Steven Spielberg has disclosed that he spent nearly a year developing the science fiction film Interstellar before stepping away, allowing Christopher Nolan to direct the 2014 project and ultimately deliver what he considers a superior version.

In a recent interview with Empire magazine, the 79-year-old director recounted his early attachment to the film, which was brought to him by producer Lynda Obst and astrophysicist Kip Thorne, who served as a scientific consultant. "I was involved with Interstellar for a year and I became fascinated with it," Spielberg said. "I spent a lot of time at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, talking to the scientists there and the aerospace engineers."

Spielberg hired Jonathan Nolan, Christopher's brother, to pen the first two drafts of the screenplay. However, the collaboration did not progress as planned. Jonathan Nolan reportedly told Spielberg, "If there comes a point where you decide not to make this movie, I can tell you who's gonna grab it. He's already bugging me about it. And that's my brother Chris." Spielberg agreed with the assessment. "He was absolutely right," he said. "The second I decided not to make it, Chris...