In the forthcoming epic film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, well known as the “father of the atomic bomb,” this role was a challenging one for Murphy to play.
The traditionally intense appearance of the actor is only made more dramatic by the sunken cheekbones and gloomy expression he wears as the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II. This character, who appeared to carry the literal weight of the world as he conducted experiments that could lead to the end of humanity, seemed to carry the weight of the world as he conducted experiments that could lead to the end of humanity.
“When they triggered the first atomic device, to test it, they might start a chain reaction that set fire to the atmosphere and destroyed the whole world.”
He said, “A small possibility, [but they] couldn’t eliminate it completely through theory, and yet they went ahead and they pushed that button.” “A small possibility, [but they] couldn’t eliminate it completely through theory.” “That’s the kind of story you want to tell, if you’re going to be a filmmaker,” someone said.
Murphy is already generating early Oscar talk for his main part, and his castmates have informed ET that the Peaky Blinders actor went to great lengths to isolate himself on set, forgoing cast meals, and limiting his food in order to depict Oppenheimer.
“We invited Cillian to dinner every night and he never went,” remembered Matt Damon, who portrays Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves Jr., the Army Corps of Engineers commander who commanded the Manhattan Project for the government. Groves was in charge of the Manhattan Project throughout its development.
Emily Blunt, who plays Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer’s wife on the show, said that the only food that Ryan Murphy consumed was “like, one almond, I think, most nights, or like, a little slice of apple.” This was expressed in reference to Murphy’s diet.
Damon continued by saying, “He was dropping so much weight for the part that he just stopped eating dinner altogether.”
Murphy, for his part, offered an explanation, stating that he was merely being very serious about the job.
“They were hanging out,” he stated of himself and the other members of the cast. “While I was in the tub, I was practicing my lines.”
Because the bulk of the filming took place in a rural part of New Mexico — which meant that the cast and crew all slept at the same motel and ate at the same restaurant for each meal — on-set camaraderie came reasonably easily for most of the rest of the cast. This created an environment that was reminiscent of “summer camp” for those working on the production.
Damon remembered, “We had dinner every night,” with Blunt thinking back on the time and saying, “So many margaritas.”
Damon continued by saying, “It was kind of like the dining hall; you’d go in and you’d see everybody, and as a result, everybody would just end up sitting together.” It is usually beneficial when you are able to get somewhat absorbed with the cast.
