Cillian Murphy Says He Was “Desperate” To Play Lead In Nolan Film
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy have collaborated for many years. In addition to Inception and Dunkirk, the Peaky Blinders actor has appeared in Nolan’s Batman pictures (Begins, Begins, The Dark Knight, and Rises). He was eventually cast as the lead in the biopic Oppenheimer, about the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Murphy told the Associated Press that he was “desperate” to play the major part in one of Nolan’s movies. He claimed he had repeatedly informed the director of his willingness to appear in any film for which he was cast. He added that he was unconcerned about how long the part would last. But Murphy did say that he had always hoped to star in a film directed by Nolan.
As Murphy put it, “I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris, that if I’m available and you want me to be in a movie, I’m there,” adding, “I don’t really care about the size of the part. But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.” he shared the story of how Nolan first contacted him to play Oppenheimer.
Remembering Nolan’s words, ‘Listen, I’ve written this script, it’s about Oppenheimer. I’d like you to be my Oppenheimer,’” he said. It brightened his day when I told him, “I’d like you to be my Oppenheimer.” According to him, he has always been able to count on him. As for why Murphy accepted the position, he said it was because he was ready to take on more responsibility.
American Prometheus, written in 2005, serves as the inspiration for Oppenheimer. The book, written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, tells the story of the physicist’s struggles in developing the atomic bomb during World War II. The film stars Cillian Murphy as the protagonist, Robert Downey Jr. as the villain, Jack Quaid as the protagonist, Matt Damon as the antagonist, Emily Blunt as the protagonist, and Rami Malek as the antagonist. The release date is set for July 21.