Excitement Builds For Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ At CinemaCon

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The big one kicked off Universal’s CinemaCon presentation: new footage from Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

“I know of no more dramatic tale, with higher stakes, twists and turns, paradoxes,” Nolan told a group of theatre owners in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “After hearing that story, I wanted to be in that room and experience what it must have been like.”

“Oppenheimer,” which opens in theatres on July 21, is the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a bright, charismatic physicist who, with his colleagues at Los Alamos, invented the atomic bomb and altered the world. Cillian Murphy, a frequent Nolan collaborator dating to “Batman Begins,” plays the lead role with Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and others.

“Whether you like it or not, he is the most important person ever.” He shaped our world, for better or worse. “You have to see his story to believe it,” Nolan remarked. “His story is both a dream and a nightmare.” Oppenheimer

Nolan shot the film in both color and black and white on large format IMAX film, but “not too much black and white, don’t worry,” he remarked.

“Oppenheimer” represents Nolan’s first collaboration with Universal, following his departure from his longtime Warner Bros. amid the studio’s controversial transition to streaming for its 2022 releases.

The filmmaker has always been a staunch supporter of movie theatres, and “Oppenheimer” will be no exception, with 70mm IMAX, 35mm, Dolby Vision, and other premium large-format screen formats accessible worldwide.

“Oppenheimer,” which opens in theatres on July 21.

Nolan also stated that he could neither confirm nor deny that a full-length trailer will be shown before “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” released on May 5.

The Universal team, led by filmed entertainment group chairman Donna Langley, gathered in Las Vegas for the annual conference just days after news broke that NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, a well-known figure in the media industry, was leaving the company following an investigation into inappropriate behavior.

Shell was in charge of a large portfolio of assets, including the motion picture corporation. He was previously head of NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment. As of Wednesday, Comcast had yet to name a replacement.

The film studio crew has celebrated the recent box office triumph of Illumination’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” earning over $900 million worldwide. Oppenheimer It will be the first film to gross $1 billion in 2023, a milestone it will reach this week, according to Langley.

“Mario” followed smashes like “Cocaine Bear” and “M3GAN,” which, according to Universal’s domestic distribution head Jim Orr, dominated cultural debate from memes to late-night fodder.

“We bet on audiences,” said Orr. “We believe that our best days are ahead of us, not behind us.”

“The comedy is crazier, the horror is more terrifying, the drama is more powerful,” Orr said of their 2023 slate. And ‘Fast X’ is faster and more furious than anything you’ve seen.

Will Ferrell was on stage with a puppy named Sophie to discuss his R-rated comedy “Strays” (June 9), in which he and Jamie Foxx portray foul-mouthed puppies. Sophie, according to Ferrell, plays his character Reggie in the film.

“She’s not that cute; you don’t have to keep cutting to her,” Ferrell pointed out. “Hey, cameraman, let’s try to keep it even.” “One of her and one of me.”

“I have three Emmys and a Mark Twain Prize, and you regularly (expletive) on the sidewalk,” he said.

Later, Ferrell apologized to Sophie. The gag had the audience in stitches.

Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick also added enthusiasm to the room as they discussed “Trolls Band Together,” which will be released on November 17.

“Hello, A-Ken. “Ak-Attack,” Timberlake exclaimed. “I’m on a high.”

“Oppenheimer,” which opens in theatres on July 21.

He quickly explained that he wasn’t. According to Kendrick, the characters in this film have left “the friend zone.”

“Get ready to rock and trooooollll,” Kendrick exclaimed before telling her straight-man counterpart, “Joy is a choice.”

DreamWorks Animation has announced “Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken,” which will be released on June 30 and stars Lana Condor as a Kraken struggling to survive high school.

“We believe it has the potential to be the summer’s girl power movie,” said DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn.

Jason Blum and David Gordon Green, who collaborated on the “Halloween” reboots, also offered a first look at “The Exorcist Believer,” a new modern-day “Exorcist” film in which two youngsters become possessed. It’s the first of a planned trilogy starring Ellen Burstyn, and it hits theatres on October 13.

Universal also ended on a high note. The first film, “Fast X,” featured Jordan Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and Sung Kang quickly recapping the first nine films before calling Vin Diesel to the stage and exiting stage left.

“I like this room better than the Oscars,” Diesel exclaimed, drawing applause. “And you know I mean that.”

Then, stunt performers from Eighty-Seven North performed as the opening act for Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling to tease ‘Fall Guy’ before closing with a first look at ‘Wicked’, which Langley assured will ‘dazzle your screens’.

SOURCE – (AP)