Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2023. The film, which follows the life of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, is slated for release in July. However, recent reports seemed to suggest otherwise.
The rumors stemmed from a Variety interview with Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux where he stated that the film will release later in the year – a comment that seemed to imply the film's release date of July 21 had been changed.
When asked if the Cannes Film Festival will see Oppenheimer in competition, Fremaux stated, "Unfortunately no, I would have loved [that] but it's being released at the end of the year as part of their awards strategy. My two regrets this year are "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie," but it won't be ready either by May."
Fremaux has since clarified his statement with the 62-year-old confirming that the biographical film is still slated for a July debut. The film's debut coincides with another heavyweight picture Barbie. Given that the release of both films on the same day is bound to set off competition that could potentially affect the performance of either, many have been expecting one of the studios involved to change the date of their project. Perhaps, this explains why many were quick to believe Oppenheimer's date had been shifted.