Christopher Nolan has said he would be "terrified" to direct a romantic comedy, calling comedy one of the hardest things to get right in filmmaking. The remark came during his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, after Fallon jokingly suggested the director try an "easy" project next. It offers a light but telling insight into how the acclaimed filmmaker, known for dense, effects-heavy blockbusters, views the risks of a genre far outside his usual territory.

Nolan explained that comedy directors take on unique risk because there is "no hiding" if a joke fails to land, unlike with drama where a muted reaction can be brushed off. He contrasted this with his enthusiasm for horror, telling The Hollywood Reporter separately that his new film The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway, has "whet his appetite" for the genre, provided any project began with a genuinely strong concept. The Odyssey, shot on 70mm IMAX as the first feature to do so, is currently in cinemas.