Gallery: How Designers Recreated Alan Turing's Code-Breaking Computer for Imitation Game

  • Image may contain Human Person Workshop Plywood Wood Furniture and Shelf
    Jack English/The Weinstein Company
    01

    Christopher-and-Turing

    Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing with the code-breaking machine Turing calls Christopher. (Expand gallery to fullscreen for larger images.)
  • Image may contain Workshop Furniture Table Indoors Housing Building Interior Design and Desk
    courtesy The Weinstein Company
    02

    Christopher-Int-Hut-11-2

    The Christopher prop had to be able to be easily converted from its early stages to its nearly-complete form on the fly.
  • Image may contain Interior Design Indoors Wood Furniture Plywood and Table
    Shaun Armstrong/mubsta.com
    03

    Christopher-Display-at-Bletchley

    This is the Christopher prop currently on display at Bletchley Park.
  • Image may contain Shelf Wristwatch Wheel Machine and Tire
    Shaun Armstrong/mubsta.com
    04

    BombeAtBletchleyPark

    Bletchley Park also has its own replica of Alan Turing's Bombe (shown here).
  • The Christopher prop is remarkably similar to Bletchley's Bombe replica.
    Shaun Armstrong/mubsta.com
    05

    Christopher-at-Bletchley

    The Christopher prop is remarkably similar to Bletchley's Bombe replica.
  • Image may contain Building Factory Drawing and Art
    Maria Djurkovic/The Weinstein Company
    06

    Christopher-Int-Hut-11-sketch

    Christopher in the film is a little larger than the original machine in order to make it an imposing feature in each scene.
  • Image may contain Workshop Drawing Art Sketch Plot Diagram Plan Building Painting and Urban
    Maria Djurkovic/The Weinstein Company
    07

    Int-Hut-11-with-Christopher

    Christopher was located in Bletchley Park's Hut 11.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Truck Fire Truck Electronics Hardware Electronic Chip and Computer
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    08

    COMPLETE-bombe-front-elevation

    Nick Dent designed Christopher using Illustrator with a CAD plug-in. This is his design for the front of the machine.
  • Image may contain Electronics Computer and Hardware
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    09

    COMPLETE-Bombe-rear-

    This is Dent's design for the rear of the machine.
  • Image may contain Electronics Computer and Hardware
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    10

    Complete-Bombe

    Christopher was designed to be opened up so moviegoers could see the complexity inside.
  • Image may contain Electronics Computer and Hardware
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    11

    Complete-LHS-Bombe-2

    The prop was also designed to show various stages of completion.
  • Image may contain Wiring
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    12

    part-built--FRONT-elevation

    The bright red cords on Christopher give the appearance of veins flowing into the machine.
  • Image may contain Gate Diagram Plan and Plot
    Nick Dent/The Weinstein Company
    13

    Part-Built-bombe-LHS-

    Having a machine that opened up allowed the filmmakers to show Turing working on it.
Read More
Meet Dyson’s New Robot Vacuum Army
The Nurovi line includes three lidar-powered robovacs. But to get the model I’m most intrigued by, you’ll need a Costco membership.
Nena Farrell
Here’s What Snap’s Expensive Specs Can Actually Do
Snap thinks its chunky, pricey smart glasses are the future of human computing, powered by a new AI app and features that do everything from translating languages to improving your golf swing.
Boone Ashworth
OpenAI Creates a New Framework to Disclose Bad AI Behavior
The company also disclosed previously unreported incidents in which its AI models behaved in misaligned ways, including uploading files to the internet without being asked.
Maxwell Zeff
Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon
Even with mounting concerns about AI models going rogue, legislation appears unlikely, and the White House is outright opposed to oversight.
Hugo Lowell
The WIRED Guide to Shopping Prime Big Deal Days
Before Amazon’s October sale begins, learn how to investigate prices and track products like a pro.
Louryn Strampe
The Top New Features Coming to MacOS 27 Golden Gate to Try Out Now
Siri’s reintroduction takes center stage as Apple officially rolls out the latest version of macOS to download and install.
Luke Larsen
I Trained a Fly’s Brain to Generate WIRED Story Ideas
I used an open-source map of a fruit fly’s brain to vibe code a website called PitchFly. Its headline suggestions were delightfully bananas.
Will Knight
The 8 Best Movies to Stream This Month
The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Wild Robot, and Obsession are among the must-watch films arriving this month.
Matt Kamen
Chipotle Is Working With Palantir to Track Food Safety Risks
The burrito chain has enlisted Palantir for a platform that monitors pest incidents, employee illnesses, and other factors. The partnership comes after a nightmare summer for food safety across the US.
Kate Taylor
The iPhone 18 Pro Is for the Shutterbugs
Fun camera features help make these candy bar iPhones stand out from the dazzle of the folding iPhone Duo.
Julian Chokkattu
Don’t Buy an Android Phone Until You Read Our Guide
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
Introducing the WIRED App
The app is the best way to read, watch, and listen to WIRED’s journalism.
WIRED Staff