Jessica Chastain Confirms Surprising Prediction About Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar

EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Chastain recalls working with Christopher Nolan on the set of Interstellar.

When Interstellar debuted in 2014, critics and audiences gave it mixed reviews; they were impressed by its stunning, groundbreaking visuals but weren't sold on its melodramatic tone and heavy-handed exposition. However, the divisive reception didn't last long, as the thriller ultimately became one of Nolan's most celebrated movies to date. The movie stood the test of time, with viewers learning to appreciate its emotional significance. Interstellar's continued streaming success also massively contributed to its shifting public reception, transforming it from a polarizing film to a beloved sci-fi classic.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley, Chastain, who played adult Murphy in Interstellar, shared that she knew the 2014 movie would be a timeless classiclike Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Even though shooting the film “felt like a small movie,” Chastain predicted that they were making something special. The Academy Award winner also recalled telling Nolan during production that Interstellar was definitely a movie ahead of its time.

Jessica Chastain: It was just a quiet, peaceful, zen-like set. I remember it felt like a small movie; even though it wasn't a small movie, it felt very intimate. And Chris was so respectful of the actors, and he was very careful and deliberate with his words and protective. I mean, one thing that people don't understand is that when Interstellar came out, it was not a success. People didn't get it. And I said to Chris at the time when 2001: A Space Odyssey came out, the New York Times called it immensely boring. And that is a film that has withstood the test of time. And I said, "Interstellar is made before its time." And little did I know, 10 years later, I think it's one of the greatest films in his canon, and that's pretty impressive because he has incredible films, but it goes to show sometimes you make something and people don't get it. But the wonderful thing about film and storytelling is that you don't know when it's going to hit, but it's going to affect people, and it withstands the test of time.

In Interstellar, Chastain played the adult version of Murphy Cooper, the daughter of Matthew McConaughey's character, who grew up to become a top NASA scientist. She had a significant role in saving humanity from its dying planet by making a scientific breakthrough that allowed NASA to build space stations where people could evacuate to.

Following the film's release, while critics praised Chastain's performance as the story's emotional anchor, some felt that the acclaimed actor was underutilized. She also shared the role with Mackenzie Foy as 10-year-old Murphy and Ellen Burstyn as the elderly Murphy.

Interstellar takes place in a dystopian future where humanity faces a life-threatening famine because of Earth's dying ecosystem. To solve this crisis, NASA sends a small team of astronauts on a deep-space mission in search of a potential new home for humanity. Following its initial theatrical run and subsequent IMAX re-releases, the 2014 movie has already grossed over $782 million worldwide. It also currently holds a Fresh rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score is higher at 87%.

Nolan directed the 2014 feature, which he also co-wrote with his brother, Jonathan Nolan. Its A-list ensemble cast included Chastain, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Michael Caine, John Lithgow, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, and Timothee Chalamet. The movie won one Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was also nominated in four other major categories, including Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

At the moment, Interstellar is available to stream on Apple TV, where it has landed a spot on the platform’s top ten chart in the United States.

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From Christopher Nolan, Interstellar imagines a future where the Earth is plagued by a life-threatening famine, and a small team of astronauts is sent out to find a new prospective home among the stars. Despite putting the mission first, Coop (Matthew McConaughey) races against time to return home to his family even as they work to save mankind back on Earth.