The ever-growing showdown between Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer continues to gain traction as the two flicks are set to go head-to-head at the summer box office next week. Before the films of opposing genres engage in an intense battle, the phrase “Barbenheimer” has undoubtedly swept the globe and become a worldwide phenomenon in just a few months. But despite all the joy and fun, it’s now being suggested that Christopher Nolan surely has a bone to pick with Warner Bros.
As per Insider, Nolan was recently asked about the battle between Oppenheimer and Barbie at a press event. As respectable and reserved as ever, Nolan insisted that he would not answer the question, which was followed with a light chuckle and a token of encouragement for other movies that are “crowding” the marketplace. But considering Nolan’s tricky history with Warner Bros., it makes sense as to why many have felt that releasing Barbie on the same day is an intentional chess move.
Later in the article, it was revealed that four unidentified sources suggested that Nolan is undoubtedly upset with Warner Bros. for selecting a weekend in mid-July to release Barbie — which is traditionally known across the cinematic landscape as “Nolan’s weekend.” It was simultaneously reported that certain movie theater community representatives attempted to contact Warner Bros. to get Barbie’s date shifted, but to no avail.
If this was Warner Bros.’ calculated attempt to woo Nolan and get him back, it feels like such a risky chess move has yet to pay off. Either way, there are already over 20,000 people ready to watch both movies back-to-back on premiere day, so July 21 is slated to be a day to remember.
