The Unexpected Influence of a TV Show on Oppenheimer's Design

Oppeheimer's producer recently unveiled an exciting Easter egg, where a location in the film coincides with a highly regarded TV show. Despite the passing months since Christopher Nolan's remarkable biopic Oppenheimer was showcased in theaters, enthusiasts are still yearning for behind-the-scenes tidbits.

The film Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly a billion dollars at the box office, delves into the fascinating life and achievements of J. Robert Oppenheimer, renowned as the pioneer of the atomic bomb. Intriguingly, a recent revelation by one of the movie's producers has established an intriguing connection between the film and a well-known television series.

Oppenheimer shared an office with Veep

Oppenheimer production designer Ruth De Jong shared during Variety's Artisans Screening Series that the filming of the Oval Office scene took place on the set of HBO's acclaimed political satire Veep.

The scene was originally planned to be filmed at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the team had to quickly find a new location as their original choice fell through.

While De Jong initially considered moving the scene to the end of the schedule, they soon realized that this wasn't possible. Gary Oldman, who portrayed President Harry S. Truman, had a busy schedule, making it impossible to change the filming date for this particular scene.

However, De Jong attributed their success to the presence of supervising art director Samantha Englander, who had the Veep Oval Office securely stored in a flat-packed state.

Universal Pictures

De Jong disclosed that she dispatched a crew of construction workers to reconstruct the set, as the "crown molding was detaching. The situation was chaotic."

Within a period of five days, the team assembled the Oval Office, in addition to constructing a lobby and cabinet room. De Jong and her team tirelessly devoted their efforts throughout the entire duration of those five days.

When asked if anyone noticed the quick work, De Jong said, “Gary Oldman had no idea. And the paint was still wet.”

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Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I find it fascinating that the designer of Oppenheimer chose to film the Oval Office scene on the set of HBO's Veep. This unexpected connection between a biopic about the pioneer of the atomic bomb and a political satire adds an intriguing layer to the storyline. It's also interesting to learn that the team had to quickly find a new location when their original choice fell through, and that they were able to pull it off in just five days.

Overall, I think this behind-the-scenes tidbit adds to the intrigue of Oppenheimer and makes me appreciate the creativity and resourcefulness of the production team.