The long-awaited trailer for Christopher Nolan's Tenet has finally arrived and there's plenty of juicy details to dissect from this first glimpse at the renowned director's latest project. Up until now, Nolan's Tenet has been largely defined by secrecy; a project that began under a cloud of silence and more or less remained there ever since. A short teaser trailer was theatrically released back in August, shown along with Hobbs & Shaw, but as 2020 rapidly approached, the footage still hadn't officially found its way online, with leaks being swiftly removed by the movie powers that be. Some official images have showcased the main cast in action, but have been extremely light on plot details.
One thing that has been confirmed about Tenet is the stellar cast. Featuring John David Washington, Michael Caine, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Kenneth Branagh and more, Tenet is certainly an A-list affair if nothing else. Based on a short official synopsis and descriptions of the theatrical trailer, Tenet looks to incorporate elements of action, espionage and thriller in Nolan's trademark style. Indeed, the director's reputation has inspired feverish speculation about the mind-bending secrets Tenet might have on offer, with many pointing to the trailer footage and the movie's stylized logo as proof that some sort of time travel will be a core element of the plot.
Months after debuting in cinemas, a first trailer for Tenet has now finally released online, and is packed with details that give some proper insight into what Nolan's latest effort has in store. Here are all the major moments and reveals from the Tenet trailer.
Climbing In Reverse
The Tenet trailer starts as it means to go on, impressing the eyes and confounding the mind with impossible visuals. The opening sequence sees John David Washington's character effortlessly scale the side of a building in mere seconds using just a length of rope attached to his torso. Although the image looks baffling initially, story details teased later in the trailer would suggest that Washington is actually abseiling down the side of the structure and then using the unique time reversal ability of Tenet's world to ascend, rather than descend. Upon reaching the desired floor, time then appears to resume its natural flow. The result is a set piece unlike anything seen previously and is reminiscent of Nolan's other high-concept reality-warper, Inception.
John David Washington
While much regarding Tenet's characters remains a mystery, the trailer gives plenty away concerning Washington's protagonist. Some kind of spy or soldier at the outset of the story, the man's prowess in his profession earns him a test of loyalty from new admirers, which he passes with flying colors. The entire test sequence feels somewhat similar to the "red pill, blue pill" segment of The Matrix, with a previously ignorant citizen about to take a jump into a world of madness.
From there, it appears Washington's heroic lead is recruited by a secret organization who protect the world from more esoteric threats and have some involvement in the manipulation of time. It's somewhat strange that Tenet first presents Washington as a new recruit to this faction, but later he actually seems more knowledgeable than his partner. Could the time reversal phenomenon be happening to Tenet's main character throughout the entire film?
The Boat
Whatever enigmatic group plucks Washington from his ordinary life, it appears they operate at sea on a large freighter-style vessel, and it may well be this boat Martin Donovan's boss-man type is referring to when he mentions the "Afterlife." If not the name of the boat itself (it actually says "Magne Viking" on the side), this word could be the title of the organization that owns it, or perhaps even a more literal allusion towards some method of cheating death, where the time reversal power is used to extend one's life. In any case, it appears a sizable chunk of Tenet will take place at sea, with Kenneth Branagh's character also found sailing. Interestingly, a closer look at the long-shot of the yellow boat reveals that the waves themselves are flowing backwards - is "Afterlife" a physical place, or somewhere regular folk can't tread, again similar to the concept of Inception?
What's Worse Than WWIII?
The faction at the center of Tenet has a typically vague purpose that even its employees don't appear to fully understand. However, the trailer sees Clémence Poésy's scientist ominously describe their mission as an attempt to stop World War Three. After asking if this meant a nuclear holocaust, like most people would naturally assume, Washington is told that the exact threat he faces is "something worse." There's not anything in the real world that could compete with the cataclysm of nuclear war, so could Tenet's enemy come not from another country, but from another time altogether? These words accompany a shot of a newly-recruited Washington being shown something in a guarded tank bathed in red lighting. The exact nature of the threat facing Earth in Tenet is left unanswered, but the heavy emphasis on time could suggest some sort of temporal unraveling that threatens the fabric of reality or an inter-dimensional fault causing the irregular time flow.
Robert Pattinson
While he doesn't have an awful lot to say, Robert Pattinson has a strong presence in the Tenet trailer, and is revealed to be another member of the mystery organization that recruits Washington's character. The two men appear to partner up and are shown operating together in a variety of different locations, including a room covered with bullet holes, an intense car chase, the building from the start of the trailer and what looks to be an underground warehouse. This indicates that Washington and Pattinson will carry the bulk of Tenet's action sequences and, once again, it's interesting that Pattinson seems to be the senior operative in some scenes, but the rookie in others...
The Meaning Of "Tenet"
"Tenet" apparently isn't just a fancy obscure title for a movie, it actually holds meaning within Nolan's latest fictional world. Donovan gives Washington the word as some kind of code or passphrase to use throughout his journey. It's said that uttering "Tenet" will open certain doors, both of the good and bad variety, and it's immediately following this statement that Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh appear. This might imply that "Tenet" is some kind of identification used between members of the same group or "those in the know" scattered throughout the world. The confirmation of both good and bad connotations could mean two sides are fighting for the same prize.
In everyday usage, the word itself refers to a core principle or belief. Is there a founding piece of knowledge that everyone who understands the meaning of the word is privy to?
Michael Caine
Very little can be gleaned about Michael Caine's character from the Tenet trailer. The legendary actor appears to be eating a fine meal in an upper-class British establishment, looking as regal and stately as he ever has done. Giving off distinctly Mycroft vibes, Caine is seen conversing with Washington, and the narration implies the character is an ally to those in the "Afterlife." Does Tenet's protagonist seek the advice of a veteran operative to help stop whatever is threatening the present? And what relationship does Caine's character have to the main group if he isn't joining them at their HQ?
Kenneth Branagh As A Villain?
Just as Martin Donovan's voiceover suggests Michael Caine will be an ally in Tenet, it also hints that Kenneth Branagh's character could be a villain, as his face coincides neatly with the line, "some of the wrong ones too." Branagh features sparingly in the trailer, but always with a sly expression that could betray some sort of inner devilry. The much-loved actor gives off the aura of a Bond villain during his fleeting appearances in the Tenet trailer.
The Un-Crashing Car
A more explicit example of Tenet's time-reversing mechanic comes in the trailer's final moments during a car chase scene between Washington and Pattinson and some unknown adversaries. During the race, one of the cars is moving backwards, although it's not clear whether this is due to unnatural time shenanigans or just skillful reverse driving. More inexplicably, a silver car is caught up in the chase and begins to spin over, only for the vehicle to then "rewind" and land the right way up without so much as a scratch. Is this how the "Afterlife" group prevent collateral damage in Tenet? And how much control do they have over the ability? It's fascinating that the objects affected by these reversals look to be very targeted and highly specific.
"Hasn't Happened Yet"
In a final big tease, Washington and Pattinson enter a room where a pane of glass has been repeatedly shot at. After being asked what caused the damage, Washington's character replies by saying that the event "hasn't happened yet," before an armed goon appears to fall backwards out of a nearby chamber. This is the clearest sign yet that the consequences of events in Tenet can often be seen before the incident actually happens. For example, a bloodstain might appear on a person's shirt before they get shot. This neatly fits with the tagline of the trailer: "Time Runs Out." This phrase could allude to several potential plot points, from an apocalyptic threat trying to stop the flow of time to time literally freezing for the characters involved so that they might abseil up walls and fix busted cars.
It remains a mystery how the reversal of time occurs in Tenet, but several scenes show characters wearing gas masks, implying there could be some chemical method of triggering the ability to affect time.
