Interstellar came in second to Big Hero 6 in its opening weekend, but the original sci-fi film is already up to $545 million worldwide in less than a month.  It's fair to say Christopher Nolan still has the clout to pick among many options for his next project.  Warner Bros. hopes to bring Nolan back home with an offer to direct the adaptation of Ready Player One.

The Ernest Cline book is set in the year 2044 and follows a teenager who sets off on a treasure hunt in an immersive online world that puts his 80s pop culture knowledge to the test.  More after the jump.

ready-player-one-book-cover
Image via Amazon

Tracking Board reported the Ready Player One offer.  Here's the book synopsis:

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. [Amazon]

While the twisty science fiction narrative sounds like it could appeal to Nolan, I can't picture the director navigating 80s pop culture references.  However, writer Zak Penn revealed it would be prohibitively expensive to license all the properties as written in the book, so he took "huge liberties" in the adaptation.  Perhaps the revamped script will suit Nolan's taste.  Or maybe I am not giving Nolan---who was a teenager in the 80s after all---enough credit.

If Nolan passes, WB, please consider Edgar Wright.