The nuclear explosion from Oppenheimer was filmed without the use of computer graphics. What else is Christopher Nolan capable of?

Christopher Nolan is known for his extraordinary approach to creating special effects for paintings. Many have already seen the fuselage of the aircraft hanging in the air and the overturned truck for the Dark Knight trilogy.

Now Christopher has recreated a nuclear explosion, and at the same time almost did not use computer graphics. It happened during the filming of his upcoming thriller Oppenheimer.

Admittedly, recreating the Trinity test [the first explosion of a nuclear weapon in New Mexico] without the use of computer graphics turned out to be a huge problem, Nolan complained in an interview with Total Film. “Andrew Jackson is my visual effects supervisor, I brought him in early on – looking for how we could practically implement many of the visual elements of the film, from introducing quantum dynamics and quantum physics to recreating the Trinity tests themselves – there were huge practical challenges.

This is one of the most difficult projects I have ever taken on, in terms of its scope and in terms of understanding the full depth of Oppenheimer's story. There were big logistical problems, big practical problems. But I had an extraordinary team and they really stepped up. There is still a lot of work to be done, but when I look at the footage and edit the film, I am delighted with the result.

The biopic with elements of the thriller Oppenheimer will premiere on July 21, 2023.