Production company Durable Goods has signed director Neil Tardio for U.S. commercial representation. Tardio’s signature comedic storytelling for brands such as AT&T, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, ESPN, Ford, McDonald’s, Nike, Verizon and Volkswagen has earned him numerous industry accolades, including Cannes Lions, Clios, Addys, Tellys, and London Art Director Awards. His natural knack for casting and dialogue can be seen in recent work, including a spot for Kaplan University out of Arnold Boston, a comedic commercial for Bank of America featuring the Boston Red Sox out of Hill Holliday, a Domino’s campaign out of Crispin Porter + Bogusky and a Tim Hortons spot out of JWT Canada.
Tardio grew up in the midst of the advertising industry, with his father owning a powerhouse commercial production company in New York in the ‘80s. After graduating from Boston University, he began his career on the agency side, working as a producer and writer for such agencies at Saatchi & Saatchi NY and DDB Chicago. Soon after launching his directing career, he earned a 1992 Peabody Award for the “Rock the Vote” special with Madonna.
In addition to his notable commercial work, Tardio has also helmed television projects, including 32 episodes for the children’s sports program P.E. TV, which eventually aired on ESPN, and the web series Lifeisode. His music video directorial success includes high-profile artists The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queen Latifah. Regarding film, his original screenplay, Son of Santa, was sold to United Artists, and he is casting for the upcoming feature The Wrong Man.
Tardio comes to Durable Goods from GO Film.
Christopher Nolan’s Next Film Is Based On “The Odyssey”
Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer" with a true epic: Homer's "The Odyssey." It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday.
Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a "mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology." It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer's saga will play on IMAX film screens.
Nolan has been an IMAX enthusiast for years, going back to "The Dark Knight," and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For "Oppenheimer," the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn't said specifically what the new technology for "The Odyssey" will be, but earlier this month he told The Associated Press that they're in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production.
"They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work," Nolan said. "It's wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible."
"The Odyssey" will be Nolan's second collaboration with Universal Pictures following "Oppenheimer," which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for best director and best picture. Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio.
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