The anticipated movie Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, introduces the public to the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, widely regarded as the father of the atomic bomb. An initial glimpse landed this Thursday as a preview ahead of the film’s July 21, 2023, premiere.
A concise clip from Universal Pictures circulated across the studio’s social channels, playing on a loop with a countdown. The sequence centers on Cillian Murphy embodying Oppenheimer, with the line, “The world is changing, it’s reforming. It’s your time.”
The voiceover continues with Emily Blunt providing the perspective of Katherine Oppenheimer, the scientist’s wife, as the film builds toward a long-anticipated release from a director known for ambitious storytelling.
After a rapid montage of blasts, a male narrator adds: “You gave them the power to destroy themselves and created the greatest man ever.”
The script for Oppenheimer draws on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize–winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, providing a detailed account of the physicist’s life and work.
It marks Nolan’s second major World War II era project in a row, following the acclaimed Dunkirk, released in 2017.
Nolan’s filmography includes landmark works such as Inception, Interstellar, and the Batman trilogy, establishing him as a defining voice of contemporary cinema. His body of work features cinematic milestones and imaginative storytelling that have left a lasting impact on the industry.
Tenet, released in 2020, arrived amid global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with theaters worldwide facing closures or limited seating at various times. The espionage thriller intertwined complex plotting with contemporary action, drawing audiences to theaters despite challenging conditions.
The film enjoyed strong box office performance in spite of the global situation, illustrating Nolan’s ability to attract audiences to ambitious, high-concept cinema. His collaboration with major studios has evolved, reflecting shifts in the industry landscape during recent years.
Studio choices during the pandemic era sparked discussion about release strategies, including simultaneous streaming considerations. This period highlighted the balance between theatrical prestige and accessibility for broader audiences, and it influenced Nolan’s forthcoming productions under various studio banners.