Cillian Murphy Almost Played Oppenheimer Way Before Christopher Nolan’s Movie



Cillian Murphy Almost Played Oppenheimer Way Before Christopher Nolan’s Movie

Summary

  • Cillian Murphy’s role as Oppenheimer is considered the best of his career, surpassing his previous performances in Peaky Blinders and Christopher Nolan’s films.
  • Murphy was considered for the role of Oppenheimer in the 2014 series Manhattan, but the part went to Daniel London instead.
  • The 2014 series Manhattan focuses on the project and its development, while Oppenheimer is a biopic showcasing the life of the scientist behind the atomic bomb.

Oppenheimer is probably the best role in Cillian Murphy‘s career so far. Although the actor has already proven to be one of the best artists of his generation in other projects such as Peaky Blinders or 28 Days Later, and even in some other Christopher Nolan’s films such as Batman Begins, Inception or Dunkirk, J. Robert Oppenheimer was destined to change his life, and he could have played him way before Nolan’s successful biopic.

The story behind the creation of the atomic bomb and Project Manhattan has actually been told many times in the past, even on the small screen. Back in 2014, WGN America release a series titled Manhattan, which almost cast Murphy as the famous scientist.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Manhattan writer Lila Byock (The Leftovers) and showrunner Sam Shaw (Castle Rock) revealed that Murphy was part of the list of names they considered for the part, which ended up being taken by Daniel London:

“We wanted Oppenheimer to feel both like he possessed a certain undeniable charisma, a presence onstage, but also that he was playing a different instrument. He needed to feel alien, or other, in some ways. A thousand percent, Cillian Murphy was on that list,” Shaw told the outlet.

Byock shared that some other interesting names were considered too, including The Bear star Ebon Moss-Bachrach and David Bowie, who actually played another popular scientist, Nikola Tesla, thanks to Christopher Nolan in The Prestige:

“When we were casting Oppenheimer, we went through a whole series of different ideas. There were actually some rock stars we considered.”

Related: Christopher Nolan Says There’s No Need for Viewers to Understand His Movies for a Very Good Reason

How Manhattan Compares to Oppenheimer

WGN America

The first important detail about the 2014 series is that it never intended to be historically accurate. And even when Nolan’s film focuses way more in the main character than in history itself, the story tries to stay as close as possible to the actual facts.

Another big difference is pretty evident considering the titles of each project. Oppenheimer is presented as a biopic, showing how the life of the titular scientist led him to become the father of the atomic bomb. Manhattan, on the other hand, is about the project and its developing. The series starts with the reaserch made about atomic wheapons and ends with the Trinity test, while the movie shows how Cillian Murphy’s character prepares himself academically and goes way beyond the famous test.

In Manhattan, J. Robert Oppenheimer was in fact a recurring character, with the show mostly focusing on the fictional character named Dr. Frank Winter, played by John Benjamin Hickey, and the rest of the families that moved to Los Alamos, where Project Manhattan took place.

Manhattan also starred Olivia Williams, Ashley Zukerman, Rachel Brosnahan, Daniel Stern, Katja Herbers, Harry Lloyd, Alexia Fast, Christopher Denham, Michael Chermus, and William Petersen among many others. The series run for two seasons, with a total of 23 episodes.

You can view the original article HERE.

N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
N.Y. Assemblyman Introduces ‘Peanut’s Law,’ Says Investigation Request Ignored
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
‘B.M.F.’ Big Meech Gets Porcelain Veneers After Prison Bid
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
How TV news anchors gear up for election night
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
NBA Reopens Jaxson Hayes Investigation After TMZ Video of 2021 Incident
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Nothing Left to Prove: Quincy Jones (1933-2024) | Tributes
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Ending, Explained
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
Every TV Series Coming to Major Streaming Services in November 2024
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City | MZS
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Gina Zollman To Perform Her Show “ORI gina LS” At The Arthur Newman Theatre, Palm Desert, CA, Sunday 11/24/24
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
Iggy Pop announces “landmark” 2025 London and Glasgow shows
Watch Fontaines D.C. sing Antonio Vega’s ‘Tesoros’ in Spanish in Madrid
Watch Fontaines D.C. sing Antonio Vega’s ‘Tesoros’ in Spanish in Madrid
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
The 3 Biggest Scandals in Sports History
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Kiss918 on the Edge: Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Casino Innovation
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Patriots’ Maye clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Titans
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
Silver: NBA looking at ‘other formats’ for 2025 ASG
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
The End Trailer Arrives for 2024’s Most Audacious Film
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Taylor Sheridan is Correct: Critics Have Become Irrelevant
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Emilia Clarke’s ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ Gets Release Date
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
Banana Republic’s Holiday Campaign, Burberry’s Stock Rises
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
The Best-Dressed Stars at LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
Beauty Made In Italy Brings A Big Crowd To The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards
The Best-Dressed Stars At The 2024 WSJ Innovator Awards