INCEPTO!

Okay, here we go again, pun intended:

Through some means of applied preordination, predetermination, clairvoyance, analysis, whatever, possibly aided physically (an implant?) or pharmacologically (the breathing masks?) or both...or neither...the two apparent protagonists (Washington and Pattinson) don't actually travel through time. Instead they recoup and retain their memories of their having survived (or not) their respective futures, whether real or purposely imagined. Hence the mention of "the afterlife” after Washington’s character “passes the test” that may have foreshadowed his death.

Armed with their quasi-foreknowledge they are assigned to analyze and address “in their time” what they've seen and gone through, possibly correct that. Logically that means they "return to the present" subjective time (hence the reversed action around them). And if they manage a correction then their perceived future changes or just gets shunted off onto some other probabilistic track and they'll either completely forget what they survived or (worse) remember it with some degree of disorientation if not deterioration, possibly increasing with each assignment. Working as a team may mitigate that last part.

The nemesis (Branagh?) can do that too but manages to "see and recall" even further into the future and change things to his greater advantage in his present. Perhaps he needs only do that through agents. So the protagonists need address and correct that as well. But at what risk to all concerned let alone WHEN?

A mere glimpse of Caine makes me think he's in cahoots with Branagh, possibly as the latter's present-time anchor and facilitator of Branagh's insights. And I can't help but think Debicki's role is also pivotal. In the trailer you see Branagh in the foreground of her all-too-brief appearance. A protagonist may have fallen for her in HIS future.

Another hint that only recently occurred to me: View Chris Marker's short film La Jetée and try not to think how that inspired Terry Gilliam. Perhaps it also inspired Nolan.

I'll gladly admit that I am likely as on-point for all this as Alfred E. Newman, but (hey) that's part of the fun. And the last film director who made me anticipate viewing his work as this one does was none other than Stanley Kubrick. I already look forward to the next trailer. Hat's off to Nolan and all others involved already!