The cinematic partners: Nolan & Hoyte. Picture: Warner Bros.
The cinematic partners: Nolan & Hoyte. Picture: Warner Bros.

Nolan & Hoyte Will Work Together on Nolan’s Next Big Project: “Oppenheimer”, That Will be Shot on 65mm Film (Obviously)

2021-11-24
2 mins read

Meet Christopher Nolan’s next big project – ‘Oppenheimer’. The film will tell the story of the father of the Atom Bomb. For that, Nolan has recruited his cinematic partner, Hoyte van Hoytema, to hold that heavy IMAX camera on his shoulders, as usual.

On the set of Dunkirk: Director of Photography HOYTE VAN HOYTEMA, Director/Producer CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and crew. © 2016 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC and Ratpac Entertainment, LLC.
On the set of Dunkirk: Director of Photography HOYTE VAN HOYTEMA, Director/Producer CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, and crew. © 2016 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC, and Ratpac Entertainment, LLC.

Oppenheimer: A Christopher Nolan film

Christopher Nolan’s new film, ’Oppenheimer’, will tell the story of the American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. The film will follow the man at the center of the Manhattan Project and the “destroyer of worlds”. The Oppenheimer cast includes Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., And Matt Damon. Nolan is the director and the writer. Production is set to get underway in early 2022, and the release is planned for July 2023.

'Oppenheimer' posters
‘Oppenheimer’ posters

Warner Bros. no-more

Oppenheimer is going to be released by Universal. That means this will be the first Christopher Nolan movie not distributed by Warner Bros. in more than 20 years. Rumors indicate that the decision of Warner Bros. to release Tenet on HBO Max parallel to theaters has impaired the business relationship between Nolan and Warner Bros. Moreover, Nolan was promised (by Universal) a production budget of around $100 million with an equal marketing budget, total creative control, 20 percent of first-dollar gross, a 100-day theatrical window, and a blackout period from the studio wherein the company would not release another movie three weeks before or three weeks after his release. Nolan is a great believer in theaters as THE place to watch his movies. He’s pretty right about that. Shooting on 65mm film demands a huge canvas screening, and not less than that.

'Oppenheimer' - Actors: Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt.
‘Oppenheimer’ – Actors: Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt.
'Oppenheimer' - Actors: Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon
‘Oppenheimer’ – Actors: Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon

Shot by Hoyte van Hoytema on 65mm IMAX cameras

Oppenheimer will be shot on IMAX film cameras, and Panavision 65mm cameras. This will be Christopher Nolan’s sixth film to be shot on IMAX 65mm film following The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Interstellar (2014), Dunkirk (2017), and Tenet (2020). The cinematographer of the film is Nolan’s cinematic partner and IMAX filmmaker, Hoyte van Hoytema. Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s fourth collaboration with Hoyte following Interstellar (2014), Dunkirk (2017), and Tenet (2020).

Tenet behind the scene: Christopher Nolan with DP Hoyte van Hoytema. Picture: Warner Bros.
Tenet behind the scene: Christopher Nolan with DP Hoyte van Hoytema. Picture: Warner Bros.

Wrapping up

Glad to hear that Nolan is going to direct a biopic about one of the most fascinating and enigmatic historical figures since WWII. Oppenheimer will be his second film related to World War II events following Dunkirk. Thus it will be refreshing to go to Nolan’s movie without taking an advanced course in Quantum mechanics. Stay tuned as we’ll try our best to keep you posted on the production of Oppenheimer.

YMCinema is a premier online publication dedicated to the intersection of cinema and cutting-edge technology. As a trusted voice in the industry, YMCinema delivers in-depth reporting, expert analysis, and breaking news on professional camera systems, post-production tools, filmmaking innovations, and the evolving landscape of visual storytelling. Recognized by industry professionals, filmmakers, and tech enthusiasts alike, YMCinema stands at the forefront of cinema-tech journalism.

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