Before he directed his first major feature, Memento, Christopher Nolan nearly directed a comedy, according to his brother and screenwriting partner Jonathan Nolan. Christopher Nolan has established himself as one of the most popular and acclaimed directors of the 21st century. The British director established his stellar reputation through his near-flawless filmography, which includes mind-bending thrillers (like the aforementioned Memento), big-budget sci-fi blockbusters (like Inception and Interstellar), and the beloved Dark Knight Trilogy.