MacGruber creators wanted Christopher Nolan to direct an episode

There had been rumblings of a MacGruber sequel for the past decade and we’re finally getting a follow-up in the form of an eight-episode TV series that will debut on the Peacock streaming service tomorrow. The return of America’s ultimate hero has been a long time coming but it could have been even bigger; there was a moment, albeit a brief one, where Christopher Nolan could have directed an episode of MacGruber.

It turns out that Christopher Nolan is a big fan of MacGruber, which led series creators Jorma Taccone and John Solomon to offer him the chance to direct. While speaking with Collider, the pair explained how hard they tried to get Nolan involved in the project, even if it just meant he was going to get his throat ripped.

We were relentless in pursuing him, like, he sent us a super sweet note, he couldn’t come to the table read, but we invited him to the table read. I honestly have been too up his butt…I wanted to see if he could get his throat ripped out, he didn’t have any time for that. We offered him any episode that he wanted to direct [laughs]. I think he’s gotten to a point where he’s like, ‘I’m not gonna actually be a part of your world, but I do appreciate it.’

The chances of Christopher Nolan ever directing an episode of a streaming series, let alone one he’s a fan of, are slim to none, but it’s hard not to imagine what could have been. “After rotting in prison for over a decade, America’s ultimate hero and uber patriot MacGruber is finally released,” reads the official synopsis. “His mission: to take down a mysterious villain from his past—Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth. With the entire world in the crosshairs, MacGruber must race against time to defeat the forces of evil — only to find that evil may be lurking within.“

In addition to Will Forte, the MacGruber series also finds Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe reprising their roles from the MacGruber movie. The series will also star Sam Elliott as Perry, MacGruber’s father who has drifted apart from his son over the years but is there to offer sage guidance on this latest mission. Laurence Fishburne is also onboard as General Barrett Fasoose, a highly decorated soldier who commands the respect of the entire U.S. military and also happens to be married to MacGruber’s ex-wife, Vicki St. Elmo (Wiig). As for Enos Queeth, the main villain of the series, he’ll be played by Billy Zane. Queeth is one of MacGruber’s mortal enemies who was thought to have been dead but has since resurfaced to carry out a heinous plot to destroy the world and claim his revenge against MacGruber.

MacGruber will debut on Peacock on December 16th, and you can check out a review from our own Alex Maidy right here.