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Will Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer be Filmed Entirely in Black and White? New Movie Image of Cillian Murphy Dropped


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Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube

Cillian Murphy appears in black and white in the first Oppenheimer movie image for Christopher Nolan's next feature.

Nolan's Oppenheimer movie has recruited one of the most fascinating cast members in Hollywood. Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb during World War II, in the film, which marks the actor's and director's latest collaboration.

Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Dane DeHaan, and Alden Ehrenreich also star in Oppenheimer. The lineup of talent in front of and behind the camera has sparked renewed interest in Nolan's upcoming film, which is set to hit theaters in 2023.

Surprising Look at Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer

The first Oppenheimer image has now been released. To honor the start of production on Nolan's upcoming film, Universal Pictures (via The Hollywood Reporter) shared a black and white still of Murphy as Oppenheimer. The image marks the first time that IMAX cameras will be used to shoot black and white material.

In addition to the image, Universal describes Oppenheimer as an "epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it."

Check out the Oppenheimer image of Murphy below:

Will Oppenheimer be in Black and White?

The movie's black and white nature is an exciting unexpected surprise, on top of the amazing first look Oppenheimer image. It's unclear how much of Oppenheimer will be shot in black and white, but it will be the first time that IMAX black and white analog photography will be used in a film.

Given Nolan's proclivity for messing with time in his films, it's probable that earlier sequences could be shot in black and white, while the "present" setting of Oppenheimer's story may be shot in color. In any event, it ensures that Nolan's next film, which will be shot by Hoyte van Hoytema, will include a unique visual aesthetic once again.

After delivering massive blockbusters such as The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, Nolan has become one of the world's most popular filmmakers. Following Tenet's return to action filmmaking, the director's next project is more analogous to Dunkirk in that movie is based on the true narrative of the creation of the atomic bomb.


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