'Oppenheimer' director Christopher Nolan will use practical effects rather than computer animation to depict a nuclear explosion in the upcoming Manhattan ...
“I think recreating the Trinity test without the use of computer graphics was a huge challenge to take on,” Nolan tells [Total Film](https://www.gamesradar.com/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-scale-interview/), referring to the first nuclear-weapons test at the Trinity site in New Mexico. Nolan doesn’t specify how, exactly, his team will pull off this non-computer-generated explosion, but we expect it has something to do with papier-mâché and baking soda. Nolan aims to use practical effects in [Oppenheimer](https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/oppenheimer-trailer-christopher-nolan-cillian-murphy.html), even for large-scale detonations.
Christopher Nolan has recreated the first ever nuclear explosion using practical effects in his upcoming biopic, Oppenheimer.
But don’t fret, we’ve compiled a list of essential tips and tricks to get you started off right!](/videos/evil-west-7-essential-combat-tips-to-get-you-started) Oppenheimer is based on the Pulitzer-winning book, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. [already packed full](/articles/more-big-names-join-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-movie) of big names, including Emily Blunt, [Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr](/articles/robert-downey-jr-matt-damon-join-christopher-nolan-oppenheimer), Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, and many more. The upcoming film looks at his work on The Manhattan Project, America’s [top-secret nuclear weapon project](/articles/christopher-nolan-next-movie-oppenheimer-atom-bomb-warner-bros) during World War II. “It’s one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever taken on in terms of the scale of it, and in terms of encountering the breadth of Oppenheimer’s story,” he said. But certainly, as I watch the results come in, and as I’m putting the film together, I’m thrilled with what my team has been able to achieve.”
Director Christopher Nolan has never been one to favour computer technology over realism and that hasn't changed with Oppenheimer.
[Nolan](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/tenet-movie-review) and his pursuit of epic realism). But it wasn't the only challenge faced on set as the entire team endeavoured to rebuild the Los Alamos Laboratory, the top secret location formed under the Manhattan Project to create nuclear weapons. “I think recreating the Trinity test [the first nuclear weapon detonation, in New Mexico] without the use of computer graphics, was a huge challenge to take on”. Case and point: replicating an actual nuclear bomb explosion without CGI for his new film [Oppenheimer](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/oppenheimer-film-christopher-nolan). [Dunkirk](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/dunkirk-review-world-premiere), abandoning blue screen space for star projectors in [Interstellar](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/interstellar-science-guide-relativity-time-dilation-black-hole-gargantua) or flipping a whole truck in the middle of Chicago's banking district in [The Dark Knight](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/every-batman-actor-ranked), Nolan has always favoured getting his hands dirty with practical effects rather than leaving the magic to CGI. [Christopher Nolan](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/christopher-nolan-book-2020)'s style of direction has always been less ‘why?’ and more ‘why the f*** not?'.
“I think recreating the Trinity test without the use of computer graphics was a huge challenge to take on,” he told the outlet. “Andrew Jackson — my visual ...
“It’s one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever taken on in terms of the scale of it, and in terms of encountering the breadth of Oppenheimer’s story,” he said. But certainly, as I watch the results come in, and as I’m putting the film together, I’m thrilled with what my team has been able to achieve.” “I think recreating the Trinity test without the use of computer graphics was a huge challenge to take on,” he told the outlet.
The director has started doing promotion for his next film, which tells the story of atomic bomb creator, J Robert Oppenheimer. In the film, Oppenheimer ...
Nolan has become known for shunning CGI in favour of pulling off stunts for real. “Andrew Jackson – my visual effects supervisor, I got him on board early on – was looking at how we could do a lot of the visual elements of the film practically, from representing quantum dynamics and quantum physics to the Trinity test itself, to recreating, with my team, Los Alamos up on a mesa in New Mexico in extraordinary weather, a lot of which was needed for the film, in terms of the very harsh conditions out there – there were huge practical challenges.” “I think recreating the Trinity test [the first nuclear weapon detonation, in New Mexico] without the use of computer graphics was a huge challenge to take on,” Nolan told
Director, who blew up a Boeing 747 for Tenet, has spoken of the challenges of practically recreating the atomic bomb test for Oppenheimer.
Nolan has long pioneered ambitious technical film-making while also mounting real-life stunts of considerable scale. “Andrew Jackson – my visual effects supervisor, I got him on board early on — was looking at how we could do a lot of the visual elements of the film practically, from representing quantum dynamics and quantum physics to the Trinity test itself … “Recreating the Trinity test without the use of computer graphics was a huge challenge to take on,” Nolan told
Christopher Nolan, whose film Oppenheimer premieres July 21, 2023, called the practical effect "a huge challenge to take on"
[let's grooveAmazon Music Unlimited - Three Months Free](https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited?asc_campaign=InlineMobile&asc_refurl=https://www.avclub.com/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-cgi-1849887864&asc_source=&tag=kinjaavclubpromo-20) [Tenet](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/tenet-2020) director. [Barbie](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/barbie-2023) movie, premiering the same day as his explosive [Oppenheimer](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/oppenheimer-2023)—Nolan has announced that he found a way to recreate a nuclear blast using only practical effects. While Nolan may be cosplaying Oppenheimer behind the camera, the infamous physicist will be portrayed by Cillian Murphy in the film. Remember, this is the guy that [flipped over an 18-wheeler](https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/17/17584508/batman-dark-knight-truck-flip-behind-the-scenes) (with a real person inside!) and [blew up a whole 747](https://www.avclub.com/the-best-movie-scenes-of-2020-1845828237/slides/22). Emily Blunt, Gary Oldman, Matt Damon and Rami Malek round out the film’s stellar cast.