“Ain’t No Way He Wants Me In This Thing”: John David Washington Recalls Meeting Christopher Nolan About Tenet & Learning He Was Cast As The Protagonist

By Max Ruscinski

Published Nov 28, 2024

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John David Washington discussed what it felt like to be cast as the lead character in Christopher Nolan's 2020 movie cast of Tenet includes Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh, and Michael Caine.

Appearing on the Little Gold Men podcast, Washington claimed that hearing he was cast in Tenet felt like getting drafted first overall in the NFL. Tenet was one of Washington's first leading roles in a major movie, and he was initially shocked he got the part. He further claims that he thought there was no chance Nolan was interested in him for Tenet when they first met. Read Washington's full comments below:

What Starring In Tenet Meant For Washington's Career

Tenet Was A Divisive Nolan Movie

Before he led the cast of Tenet, Washington starred in movies such as Monsters and Men and BlacKkKansman. However, Nolan is one of the most well-respected directors currently working in Hollywood, so starring in Tenet solidified Washington as a leading man. Even though Tenet is one of the most divisive Christopher Nolan movies, critics and fans still ired Washington's performance in the movie.

An SR custom image showing Robert Pattinson and John David Washington in Tenet, with imagery of a clock behind them

8 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Tenet 4 Years After Christopher Nolan’s Most Divisive Movie Fought To Debut In Theaters

Christoper Nolan's Tenet was incredibly divisive upon its release in 2020, but even years later, there are many disappointing qualities to the film.

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After his role in Tenet, Washington has appeared in films like Malcolm and Marie, The Creator, and the recently released The Piano Lesson. Throughout his career so far, Washington has proven that he has a lot of range as an actor. He has succeeded in ambitious action films, such as Tenet and The Creator, but also more character-driven movies. With his increasingly impressive resume, Washington is one of the most exciting actors in Hollywood right now.

Our Take On Washington's Role In Tenet

He Is A Highlight Of The Movie

Even though reviews for Tenet were not as strong as some other Nolan movies, Washington still successfully proved that he can lead a film. Tenet contained a very confusing, complex story. Additionally, viewers have also complained about Tenet's sound mixing, claiming that a lot of the dialogue is hard to hear, which made the movie's story even more puzzling. Regardless, Washington still managed to stand out on screen, and has continued to excel in his more recent movie roles.