Can Christopher Nolan top the Dark Knight trilogy? If he can, both Paramount and Warner Bros. are in for a piece of the action.

Nolan, the writer and director behind "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises" (as well as "Inception" and "Memento"), has struck a deal for his next project. Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that they will jointly produce and distribute "Interstellar," a grand-scale science fiction adventure that Nolan will direct from a screenplay by his brother, Jonathan Nolan. Christopher Nolan will co-produce with Emma Thomas, his frequent production partner who is also his spouse; Lynda Obst of Lynda Obst Productions will also join them for the project.

In a press release, Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, said, "Christopher Nolan is truly one of the great auteurs working in film today, and we're extremely proud of our successful and ongoing collaboration with him and Emma Thomas. We are excited to be teaming with Paramount, and look forward to working with the Nolans, and producer Lynda Obst, on this extraordinary new project."

Since January, speculation was spreading that Nolan would be working with Paramount and Warner Bros. (the latter the studio handled the Batman pictures and has ties to Nolan's Syncopy Films production outfit), and today's announcement makes it official. The press release briefly describes "Interstellar" as depicting "a heroic interstellar voyage to the furthest reaches of our scientific understanding."

According to press reports, the story will follow a group of futuristic adventurers who journey through a wormhole into alternate dimensions of time and space. The story is said to have been inspired by the writings of Kip Thorne, a respected theoretical physicist.

Prior to Christopher Nolan's involvement, "Interstellar" had previously been announced as a Paramount project with Steven Spielberg directing. Given the circumstances, Jonathan Nolan probably doesn't feel too bad about having to settle for his brother instead on this movie.

"Interstellar" is expected to open in theaters November 7, 2014.