John Lithgow praised director Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar,” calling it a “masterpiece” during a recent interview with Variety. The 2014 sci-fi film featured Lithgow alongside Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet, with Lithgow playing McConaughey’s father-in-law. Reflecting on a poignant scene where they attend a baseball game amidst societal collapse, he highlighted the film’s emotional depth. “Interstellar” achieved significant success, grossing over $750 million and winning an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Nolan is currently working on “The Odyssey,” set to release in July 2026, featuring a star-studded cast and utilizing new IMAX technology.
John Lithgow has shared his thoughts on collaborating with director Christopher Nolan for Interstellar. Lithgow performed alongside Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet in the iconic 2014 sci-fi film.
In a recent interview with Variety, Lithgow discussed the outstanding moments of his illustrious career, which includes earning two Academy Award nominations for his roles in 1982’s The World According to Garp and 1983’s Terms of Endearment. A notable highlight of his later career was portraying McConaughey’s weary father-in-law in Nolan’s Interstellar.
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“I regard [Interstellar] as Chris Nolan’s masterpiece, although he has created several masterpieces,” Lithgow admitted. “It was a wonderful time, and I got to collaborate with Timothée and see him evolve into a superstar—much more significant than I am!”
Lithgow reminisced about a particularly impactful scene in Interstellar, where his character Donald attends a baseball game with his son-in-law Cooper and grandson (Chalamet) after famine has devastated most of humanity.
“We went to watch the New York Yankees play in what appeared to be a community recreation center ballfield,” he remembered. “With only 10% of the world’s population remaining, we’re striving to preserve the way things used to be. Of course, I played the elderly figure, the grandfather of Timothée Chalamet, it’s worth mentioning.”
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|
Interstellar Cast |
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|---|---|
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Actor |
Role |
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Matthew McConaughey |
Joseph “Coop” Cooper |
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Anne Hathaway |
Dr. Amelia Brand |
|
Jessica Chastain |
Murphy “Murph” Cooper |
|
John Lithgow |
Donald |
|
Timothée Chalamet |
Young Tom |
|
Casey Affleck |
Adult Tom |
Interstellar was a tremendous success both critically and commercially, grossing over $750 million at the global box office. The science fiction masterpiece received five Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Visual Effects. Its deep exploration of the future of humanity resonated with audiences, leading to a re-release in IMAX in 2024, which once again proved to be a box office triumph.
“I was incredibly gratified by the audience response,” Nolan expressed to the AP regarding the 2024 re-release. “It’s thrilling when people connect with your work at any time. But to see new audiences discovering it a decade later, especially in the intended IMAX format and on those IMAX film prints? It’s an exceptionally rewarding experience to witness its continued relevance.”
Interstellar Was a Family Project for Christopher Nolan
The 2014 Blockbuster Was Co-Written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan, and Produced By His Wife Emma Thomas
- Christopher Nolan was not initially the preferred choice to direct Interstellar, as his brother Jonathan originally penned the screenplay for Steven Spielberg.
- Interstellar is set in a fictional mid-21st century, where majority of humanity has succumbed to dust storms and famine.
- Matthew McConaughey portrays a NASA astronaut who ventures through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a potential new home for mankind.
Nolan emphasized that the successful re-release of Interstellar in IMAX highlights the ongoing importance of the theatrical experience in the streaming era.
“It simply reaffirms to our industry that audiences truly appreciate the distinct difference between a communal, large-screen theatrical experience that they desire, even for films they have the option to see at home,” Nolan remarked. “The theatrical experience we cherish is immensely powerful and exhilarating. This is a clear demonstration of the phenomenon, especially with the successes of Wicked, Gladiator II, and Moana 2 showcasing the audience turnout for such beloved experiences.”
“The theatrical experience we all know and love is immensely powerful and exhilarating.”
Nolan is set to delve into one of humanity’s most significant myths for his upcoming project, adapting Homer’s The Odyssey. He reunites with Interstellar star Matt Damon, who will portray the legendary Odysseus on his quest to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. The filmmaker has secured a star-studded cast, including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, and Elliot Page.
The official synopsis hints at even more technical advancement from the director: “Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is an epic action myth filmed globally with cutting-edge IMAX film technology. This film brings Homer’s seminal tale to IMAX screens for the first time and is set to premiere in theaters on July 17, 2026.”
Source: Variety
Interstellar
- Release Date
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November 7, 2014
- Runtime
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169 Minutes
