Fridays in Hollywood not only signal the beginning of the weekend but also provide an exciting platform for new films to compete with each other for top honors at the box office. While some directors weigh in on the risk factors and make changes to their release dates based on their competitors, others thrive in the challenge of releasing their film alongside another high-profile counterpart to see who comes out on top.
This summer, Christopher Nolan’s much-awaited Oppenheimer starring Cillian Murphy will clash with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, another film that comes with lofty expectations. Both movies will release on July 21st, 2023. While a Nolan film always garners immense excitement and anticipation, Greta Gerwig has also been on the radar for her casting choices for Barbie and Ken who will be played by Hollywood A-listers, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling. With rumors of date changes making the rounds, Christopher Nolan has cleared all doubts about the release of his film.
Christopher Nolan Will Not Change Oppenheimer’s Release Date
Christopher Nolan put an end to rumors about the date of release of his biographical magnum opus, Oppenheimer. The film, which will compete with Barbie for its opening weekend, was allegedly reported to have been shifted to another date at the end of the year. But Nolan, in no uncertain terms, clarified that his film has not been delayed and is still set to release in theaters this summer.
The miscommunication started owing to a comment by Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Femaux, who said that he would have loved to have had Oppenheimer as part of the lineup and mistakenly added that the film was being released at the end of the year. Following the announcement, both Nolan fans and Barbie film supporters defended their favorite film making this face-off even more interesting.
Let’s gooooo!! pic.twitter.com/tqH5kuWxpL
— Prince of Horror 🎃👻💀🧛🏻♂️🧟♂️ (@Johnnyxcarter96) April 14, 2023
For now. That next barbie trailer will spook them for sure
— Dorian (@DorianOver9000) April 14, 2023
thank god i already planned watching barbie first then oppenheimer on opening day
— ًsophia⁷ (@anakinsatellite) April 14, 2023
Come July 21st, the verdict for both films will be out and it promises to be an extremely close race.
Oppenheimer Was A Real Challenge, Says Christopher Nolan
When Christopher Nolan is not directing complex sci-fi thrillers, the director has extended his expertise into diverse genres including detailed biographies of pioneering personalities. Oppenheimer is based on the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin and is told through the eyes of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a key contributor to the creation of the atomic bomb. Speaking of the challenges he faced, The Dark Knight director said,
“We’re trying to tell the story of somebody’s life and their journey through personal history and larger-scale history. And so the subjectivity of the story is everything to me. We want to view these events through Oppenheimer’s eyes. And that was the challenge”
The film was shot with Imax cameras to give it a new perspective and also boasts of a fantastic ensemble cast comprising Hollywood royalties like Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Rami Malek, Josh Hartnett, and Kenneth Branagh.
Source: Twitter
