Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has made history for being his highest-grossing film on the IMAX screen. The movie is doing great on the big screen. Cillian Murphy’s commendable acting, Nolan’s direction, and the fantastic work done by the rest of the cast, such as Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh, is why the movie is winning the audience’s hearts. But there is a very interesting story behind how Cillian Murphy got the leading role of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. Director Christopher Nolan journeyed to Dublin to deliver Cillian Murphy a physical copy of the Oppenheimer script. He noted that the story profoundly affected him, utterly astonishing him, and there was no way he would let go of this opportunity.
Cillian Murphy was all in for the movie Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy have worked together for over twenty years, but this is the first time Murphy played the lead in Nolan’s film. Cillian Murphy was caught off guard when he received a call from Nolan himself, extending a direct offer for the role to him. After this, In September 2020, Nolan made a trip to Dublin for a face-to-face meeting with Murphy, during which he handed over a tangible copy of the movie script. Captivating Murphy immediately, the writing took a unique approach by adopting a first-person narrative rather than the conventional third-person style.
In an exclusive interview with Collider, Murphy shares how surprising it was for him to receive a call from Nolan, as everyone knows no one hears from Nolan until he calls. Murphy says it is undoubtedly one of the best screenplays he has ever read. He also mentions that it is a big deal for any actor to be a part of Nolan’s creation, but getting the leading role is like a dream come true.