Christopher Nolan’s next feature,Oppenheimer, seems to be one of the filmmaker’s most straightforward stories on paper, as it centers on theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and his involvement with the creation of the atom bomb. But Murphy feels that Nolan has another trick up his sleeve, believing the film will be something different from what moviegoers are expecting.
Oppenheimerwill be the first Nolan film underUniversal Pictures, as the director parted ways with Warner Bros. due to the director’s frustration with the studios' 2021 hybrid model of having its 2021 films premiere onthe HBO MAX streaming servicesimultaneously with their theatrical release. Now ready to start fresh with a company that is set to meet his demands, Nolan is set to return to the big screen with something truly spectacular.
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During an interview with Esquire, Murphy explained how the story ofOppenheimerwill unfold in way audiences may not expect. “It’s the first time he’s cast me in a lead, which I’m still a bit in shock about, but I’m thrilled. It’s a huge part and a lot of work," Murphy said. “But in my estimation, you’re working with one of the greatest living directors, so you’re in safe hands. The difference with this one is the story is there, everybody knows what happened. But Chris is telling it in a different way, as with Chris you would expect. That’s all I can say… I’m not going to say. They’d kill me — they’re so strict!”
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that Nolan will toy with the film’s structure while possibly exploring his favorite thematic concepts like time. His oscar-winningDunkirkat first seeming to depict the real-life historic events in a more straightforward way, but it turned out to be a unique depiction of the evacuation that saw Nolan telling the story from three different perspectives and favoring visuals over backstory and dialogue. While he maystrive to achieve something different withOppenheimer, fans can most likely expect the film to have a unique structure that separates it from many other biopics.
As for Murphy, while he is still shocked to be having the lead role in a Nolan film, the actor is no stranger to working on big blockbusters, as he believes his experiences will prepare him for when cameras begin rolling. The actor (who auditioned for the role of Bruce Wayne / Batman) starred in Nolan’sBatman Beginsas the villainous Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow before reuniting with Nolan again onInceptionandDunkirk. Murphy alsostarred alongside Emily Bluntin last year’sA Quiet Place Part II(and the two will reunite onOppenheimer).
Oppenheimer, based on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winnerAmerican Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,will also starbig names like Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, and Rami Malek. Nolan is set to write, while Emma Thomas, Nolan’s creative partner and wife, will produce with Charles Roven.
