Sir Christopher Nolan has revealed the films he's too "terrified" to make.

The Odyssey director has taken charge of superhero movies, sci-fi capers and big budget dramas, but he's never directed a rom-com because he's convinced it would be "incredibly difficult" and he's too scared to try a comedy because it's "one of the hardest things in the world".

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Nolan explained: "I think doing a rom-com would be incredibly difficult.

"I love watching those movies. But, no, I think people who direct comedy, people who do comedy, I think that's one of the hardest things in the world to make people laugh that way.

"Particularly the risk they take. When you make a film … you know, if I show a film to people and maybe they don't respond to bits of it, I'm like: 'Ah, they don't get it. Whatever'. There's no hiding behind that when you do comedy.

"I would be terrified of doing anything like that."

However, Nolan is keen to turn his hand to making horror movies because several gory scenes in The Odyssey have convinced him its a genre he would like to explore - but he's determined to wait until he has a good idea.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "It [the scenes in The Odyssey] very much whets my appetite for more. But I've always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view.

"In other words, you have to have an amazing idea. When you go see a film like Obsession, that's an amazing idea. That movie works like a motherf*****.

"It's not about the technical side. It's not about what technical itches I would have to scratch. It's about story. So I'm always looking."

Nolan also revealed he'd love to reunite with Christian Bale at some stage in the future, describing the film star as "one of the great actors of his generation".

The 55-year-old filmmaker previously worked with Christian, 52, on the Batman movies, as well as The Prestige, and he'd love to work with him again.

Nolan told the publication: "He's one of the great actors of his generation, and I've had tremendous experiences with him.

"I'm thrilled that they're going to rerelease The Prestige, because it's one of his most underrated performances. I'm just really excited to bring it to fresh audiences."