Ashhar Alam / New Delhi

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has said that Interstellar ultimately became a far stronger film after Christopher Nolan took over the project, according to People.

In a recent interview, Spielberg recalled that he was initially involved with the film during its early development phase. He said producer Lynda Obst and physicist Kip Thorne had approached him with the idea, which he found deeply intriguing. He also spent time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, interacting with scientists and aerospace experts while exploring the concept.

Spielberg noted that Jonathan Nolan had worked on early drafts of the screenplay, but the project did not fully take shape under his direction. “It didn’t stick,” he said, as reported by People.

He also recounted a conversation in which Jonathan Nolan hinted that his brother Christopher might eventually take over the film if Spielberg stepped away. According to Spielberg, that prediction turned out to be accurate, as Christopher Nolan quickly came on board once he exited the project.

Reflecting on the outcome, Spielberg praised Nolan’s approach, stating that Interstellar was “a much better movie” in Christopher Nolan’s hands than it would have been in his own.

Released in 2014, Interstellar starred Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain and emerged as a major global box office success.

Actor Timothée Chalamet, who had a role in the film, recently shared memories of reconnecting with Nolan at a screening, describing the experience as unexpectedly nostalgic and playful, according to People.

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Nolan, meanwhile, has spoken about how the film’s appreciation has grown over time, saying its impact has expanded year after year, gradually becoming one of his most recognized works.

Spielberg is currently preparing for his upcoming project Disclosure Day, while Nolan is working on The Odyssey, according to People.