Cillian Murphy Skipped Learning Atomic Bomb Math and Science for Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’
variety.comZack Sharf Christopher Nolan is now filming his atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer,” which is notable for starring Cillian Murphy in the eponymous role of Manhattan Project leader J.
Robert Oppenheimer. Murphy is leading his first Nolan tentpole after playing supporting roles in six of the director’s movies (three “Dark Knight” films, “Inception” and “Dunkirk”).
When it came time to prepping for “Oppenheimer,” Murphy skipped over all the mechanics of what makes an atom bomb and instead focused on the man himself.“[I prepped by doing] an awful lot of reading,” Murphy recently told The Guardian. “I’m interested in the man and what [inventing the atomic bomb] does to the individual.
The mechanics of it, that’s not really for me – I don’t have the intellectual capability to understand them, but these contradictory characters are fascinating.” Murphy drew a connection between the contradictory nature of Oppenheimer and that of his “Peaky Blinders” character Tommy Shelby, noting both characters are “are a complete contradiction.” The actor added, “People identify with that, because we all walk around with these contradictory ideas coexisting in our heads.”Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” script is based on Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin’s biography “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer,” which was part of Murphy’s reading list during prep.
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