Christopher Nolan is now the president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) after a union vote. Best known for movies like The Dark Knight (2008), Interstellar (2014), and the acclaimed Oppenheimer (2023), Nolan remains one of the best known and most beloved directors working in Hollywood today.
An outspoken advocate of the theatrical experience, Nolan’s next film is an adaptation of The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland, among others. Still 10 months away, the film is already hotly anticipated.
As the wait continues for The Odyssey, Nolan’s power in Hollywood only continues to grow, with THR reporting that he has now been elected as president of the DGA. Nolan ran for the position unopposed and takes over for outgoing leader Lesli Linka Glatter.
The Oppenheimer filmmaker now represents the 19,500-person union, which includes directors, assistant directors, stage managers, unit production managers, and production associates. Nolan shared the following statement about his new position:
“To be elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career. Our industry is experiencing tremendous change, and I thank the Guild’s membership for entrusting me with this responsibility.
I also want to thank President Glatter for her leadership over the past four years. I look forward to collaborating with her and the newly elected Board to achieve important creative and economic protections for our members.”
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers also released a statement, congratulating Nolan on his win:
“We look forward to partnering with President Nolan to address the issues most important to DGA members while ensuring our member companies remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.”
What This Means For Christopher Nolan
Nolan, who has been a member of the guild since 2001, is not just one of the most celebrated directors in Hollywood, he’s also one of the most powerful. He has a higher degree of celebrity than most directors, and he uses this to champion causes he is passionate about, such as the power of IMAX, the dangers of streaming, and the threat of AI.
Nolan becoming president of the DGA, then, brings a great deal more visibility and prestige to this group, at least in the public consciousness. It also gives him an opportunity to amplify the DGA’s voice on issues presently facing filmmakers in Hollywood. Nolan was already chair of the DGA’s theatrical creative rights committee and the AI committee, speaking to his interests.
In 2026, Nolan and other newly elected guild leadership, including First Vice President Todd Holland, Second Vice President Ron Howard, Third Vice President Gina Prince-Bythewood, National Vice President Laura Belsey, Secretary Treasurer Paris Barcley, and Assistant Secretary Treasurer Joyce Thomas, will enter into negotiations over its basic agreement with streamers and studios.
In addition to championing issues he’s passionate about, Nolan will also serve as the public face of the DGA during any labor disputes. The DGA is not particularly strike-prone and has not been on strike since 1987, but both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA went on strike in 2023. With AI’s role in Hollywood still quickly evolving, labor tensions remain possible in the years ahead.
Our Take On Christopher Nolan’s New DGA Role
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For the DGA, this seems like a major win. Nolan wields a great amount of power in Hollywood, commanding massive budgets and getting his way with theatrical exclusivity windows in an age when these are shrinking for most filmmakers. This influence he brings to the table could help the DGA move important agenda issues forward.
Thankfully, Nolan’s role as DGA president shouldn’t affect his filmmaking output. The Odyssey will be a major event next year, and it sounds like the director will now have plenty to do in his off-time as well.
- Birthdate
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July 30, 1970
- Birthplace
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Westminster, London, England, UK
