The IMAX trailer for Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer will debut in theaters alongside Avatar: The Way of Water. Nolan's historical drama about the invention of the first atomic bomb by J. Robert Oppenheimer and the story that surrounded it will be the 12th directorial effort of his career, and the first since his 2020 thriller Tenet. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.As confirmed by Nolan's production company Syncopy Films, new Oppenheimer footage will be screened in theaters this weekend in front of Avatar: The Way of Water. The news was revealed in a heavily redacted "Extremely confidential" message that also confirmed the trailer will be paired with IMAX screenings. Check out the mysterious post down below:Related: Oppenheimer Teaser Trailer Explained: Your Biggest Questions Answered

How Oppenheimer Will Get Audiences Into Theaters

Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss seated and looking serious in Oppenheimer

Not much information emerged about Oppenheimer during its filming, but the marketing machine has officially been kicked into motion. Nolan has recently talked more openly about the film, praising the work of his cast and crew in putting together one of the most ambitious projects of Nolan's career in filmmaking. Now that Oppenheimer is deep into post-production, the latest trailer is finally on the verge of seeing the light of day. Nolan is taking advantage of the marketing opportunity Avatar: The Way of Water presents, which can help build up Oppenheimer's appeal early on.

The move to debut the Oppenheimer trailer in theaters is already a smart one, but Nolan and Universal have taken an additional step that should only help the movie. Avatar: The Way of Water will hit theaters on December 15. The sequel is expected to follow in the footsteps of the original record-breaking phenomenon. When audiences flock to theaters to see it, they will be met with a trailer for one of the biggest films set to release in 2023. It's a great way to show off Oppenheimer to large audiences and get them interested in the movie. The decision to have an exclusive IMAX trailer makes a lot of sense for Nolan, who expertly uses the medium to enhance his stories.

As many big-budget properties are conforming to the popularity of streaming and experiencing success, Nolan is staying true to his vision of telling big stories on the big screen. He also understands that, in order to do that, filmmakers have to give people a reason to go out and spend their time and money at a movie theater. With Oppenheimer utilizing footage made exclusively for IMAX screens, Nolan has ensured this is a movie that will be best seen on the big screen. As seen with 2022's blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, when movies bank on screening in theaters, people will be pulled in by the spectacle. Nolan's dedication to the IMAX format helps him in that regard by expanding the literal scope of Oppenheimer and creating a more immersive viewing experience. News about Oppenheimer will continue to accumulate over the coming months, but it's hard to imagine there are many announcements or interviews that could be more telling than a real trailer. The buzz should only grow over the coming days as Avatar audiences get a glimpse at Nolan's latest.

More: Oppenheimer Can Fix Christopher Nolan's Incredible Broken Box Office Streak

Source: Syncopy Films/Twitter

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